Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sept. 21, 2011 | NM | SB 33 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
Sept. 19, 2011 | NM | SB 22 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
Aug. 31, 2011 | GA | HB 20EX | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
Aug. 23, 2011 | GA | HB 1EX | House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
Aug. 21, 2011 | WV | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
Aug. 18, 2011 | GA | SB 1EX | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
Aug. 5, 2011 | WV | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
Aug. 3, 2011 | WV | SB 1006 | Redistricing State Senate | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
July 27, 2011 | NC | SB 453 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
July 27, 2011 | NC | HB 937 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
July 25, 2011 | NC | SB 455 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
June 29, 2011 | MI | SB 498 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
June 29, 2011 | MI | HB 4780 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
June 23, 2011 | National | S Amdt 499 | Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
June 22, 2011 | TX | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
June 20, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
June 10, 2011 | OR | SB 989 | State Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
June 2, 2011 | AL | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
May 27, 2011 | IL | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
May 26, 2011 | NE | LB 704 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
May 26, 2011 | NE | LB 703 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
May 25, 2011 | NV | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
May 21, 2011 | TX | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
May 17, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
May 16, 2011 | OK | HB 2145 | State House Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4) |
May 10, 2011 | NV | SB 497 | Congressional and Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
May 4, 2011 | MO | HB 193 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
May 3, 2011 | OK | HB 1527 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 5) |
April 27, 2011 | IN | HB 1601 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
April 14, 2011 | IA | HF 682 | Congressional and Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
April 13, 2011 | LA | HB 6 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
April 13, 2011 | MO | HB 193 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
April 12, 2011 | OK | S Amdt 1 | Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
April 12, 2011 | AR | SB 972 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
April 11, 2011 | VA | HB 5001 | Legislative Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
April 11, 2011 | LA | HB 1 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
April 7, 2011 | ND | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
April 6, 2011 | AR | SB 871 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
March 14, 2011 | NY | S 3331 | Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 24) |
Feb. 10, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
Nov. 30, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4697 | Prohibiting Earmarks | Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56) |
April 18, 2010 | AK | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
April 14, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
March 31, 2010 | AK | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
March 16, 2010 | CO | SB 87 | Increasing Lobbyist Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1007 | Repealing Legislative Term Limits | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
Feb. 18, 2010 | GA | SR 1120 | Temporary Legislative Adjournment | Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
Feb. 9, 2010 | NY | R 3904 | Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
Feb. 8, 2010 | NM | SB 531 | Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
Jan. 26, 2010 | National | S Amdt 3302 | Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission | Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46) |
Jan. 13, 2010 | KY | SB 51 | Legislator Pension Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | A 4378 | Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Dec. 17, 2009 | OH | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
Sept. 30, 2009 | National | HR 2918 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
Sept. 23, 2009 | OH | SJR 5 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
March 19, 2009 | NM | HB 393 | Opening Conference Committees to the Public | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
March 11, 2009 | UT | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
March 5, 2009 | GA | SB 200 | Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | National | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | NM | SB 141 | Allowing Increase of Penalties for Convicted Public Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12) |
Feb. 19, 2009 | NC | SB 15 | Limiting Per Diem Payments to Legislators | Motion Agreed - Senate (37 - 11) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Feb. 6, 2009 | MT | SB 187 | Limitations on Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SJ 7 | Statement of Opposition to Expansion of EPA Jurisdiction (H.R. 2421) | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
Jan. 14, 2009 | TX | SR 14 | Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
June 10, 2008 | LA | SB 672 | Legislative Pay Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
May 29, 2008 | LA | S Amdt 3870 | Legislator Financial Disclosures | Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 29) |
April 23, 2008 | AZ | HB 2017 | Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
9/21 | SB 33 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
9/19 | SB 22 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
8/31 | HB 20EX | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
8/23 | HB 1EX | House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
8/21 | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
8/18 | SB 1EX | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
8/05 | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
8/03 | SB 1006 | Redistricing State Senate | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
7/27 | SB 453 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
7/27 | HB 937 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
7/25 | SB 455 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
7/19 | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
7/19 | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
6/29 | SB 498 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
6/29 | HB 4780 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
6/23 | S Amdt 499 | Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
6/22 | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
6/20 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
6/10 | SB 989 | State Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
6/06 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
6/02 | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
5/31 | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
5/27 | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
5/26 | LB 704 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
5/26 | LB 703 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
5/25 | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
5/21 | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
5/17 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
5/16 | HB 2145 | State House Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4) |
5/10 | SB 497 | Congressional and Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
5/04 | HB 193 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
5/03 | HB 1527 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 5) |
4/27 | HB 1601 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
4/14 | HF 682 | Congressional and Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
4/13 | HB 6 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
4/13 | HB 193 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
4/12 | S Amdt 1 | Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
4/12 | SB 972 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
4/11 | HB 5001 | Legislative Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
4/11 | HB 1 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
4/07 | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
4/06 | SB 871 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
3/14 | S 3331 | Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 24) |
2/10 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
11/30 | S Amdt 4697 | Prohibiting Earmarks | Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56) |
4/18 | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
4/14 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
3/31 | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
3/16 | SB 87 | Increasing Lobbyist Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
3/01 | SCR 1007 | Repealing Legislative Term Limits | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
2/18 | SR 1120 | Temporary Legislative Adjournment | Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
2/15 | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
2/09 | R 3904 | Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
2/08 | SB 531 | Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
1/26 | S Amdt 3302 | Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission | Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46) |
1/13 | SB 51 | Legislator Pension Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
1/11 | A 4378 | Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
12/17 | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
9/30 | HR 2918 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
9/23 | SJR 5 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
3/19 | HB 393 | Opening Conference Committees to the Public | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
3/11 | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
3/05 | SB 200 | Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
2/26 | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
2/25 | SB 141 | Allowing Increase of Penalties for Convicted Public Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12) |
2/19 | SB 15 | Limiting Per Diem Payments to Legislators | Motion Agreed - Senate (37 - 11) |
2/09 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
2/06 | SB 187 | Limitations on Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
2/02 | SJ 7 | Statement of Opposition to Expansion of EPA Jurisdiction (H.R. 2421) | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
1/14 | SR 14 | Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
6/23 | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
6/10 | SB 672 | Legislative Pay Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
5/29 | S Amdt 3870 | Legislator Financial Disclosures | Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 29) |
4/23 | HB 2017 | Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |