To adopt the nickles amendment to S 2701, the comprehensive anti-apartheid act, which would authoriz the secretary of agriculture to permit south africa to part

On Aug 15, 1986, the Senate voted 55–44 (S 2701). Result: passed. By party: Republicans 44–8, Democrats 11–36. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 19 members voted against their own party.

During the 99th Congress (1985–1986), Ronald Reagan was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 55
No: 44
Did not vote: 2
Date: Aug 15, 1986

By party

Republicans44 yes · 8 no · 2 didn’t vote
Democrats11 yes · 36 no

Who broke with their party

Howell Thomas Heflin D-AL voted yes
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted yes
Russell Billiu Long D-LA voted yes
Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. R-MD voted no
William Sebastian Cohen R-ME voted no
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted yes
John Melcher D-MT voted yes
Max Sieben Baucus D-MT voted yes
Quentin Northrup Burdick D-ND voted yes
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted yes
J. James Exon D-NE voted yes
Alfonse Marcello D'Amato R-NY voted no
David Lyle Boren D-OK voted yes
Robert William Packwood R-OR voted no
Arlen Specter R-PA voted no
Henry John Heinz III R-PA voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
James Ralph Sasser D-TN voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Barry Morris Goldwater R-AZ
John Porter East R-NC

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To adopt the nickles amendment to S 2701…: Senate Vote, Aug 15, 1986,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/99-S-627/to-adopt-the-nickles-amendment-to-s-2701-the (accessed 2026-10-17).