Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 14, 2011 OH HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 10 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
Dec. 14, 2011 OH HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Dec. 14, 2011 PA SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Dec. 14, 2011 National S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
Dec. 14, 2011 PA SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Dec. 6, 2011 National PN 5 Nomination of Caitlin Joan Halligan to the District of Columbia Circuit Court Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Nov. 10, 2011 National S J Res 27 Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI SB 693 Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 9, 2011 ND HB 1473 New Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Nov. 9, 2011 ND HB 1473 New Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC SB 689 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC SB 283 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC SB 283 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC SB 689 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 3, 2011 MI HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Oct. 24, 2011 SD HB 1001 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Oct. 24, 2011 SD HB 1001 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Oct. 20, 2011 OH HB 318 Establishing New Dates for Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Oct. 20, 2011 MD SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Oct. 20, 2011 MD SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Oct. 18, 2011 PA SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Oct. 17, 2011 UT SB 3002 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
Oct. 17, 2011 UT SB 3002 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
Oct. 17, 2011 MO SS for HCS for HB 3 Presidential Elections Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 16)
Oct. 4, 2011 UT HB 3001 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
Oct. 4, 2011 UT HB 3001 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
Sept. 23, 2011 NM HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 23, 2011 NM HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 21, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Sept. 21, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Sept. 21, 2011 NM SB 33 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
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)
Sept. 19, 2011 NM SB 22 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
Sept. 13, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
Sept. 10, 2011 CA SB 202 Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA SB 922 Project Labor Agreements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA SB 51 Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA SB 292 Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Sept. 7, 2011 NH SB 129 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 17)
Sept. 7, 2011 NH SB 154 Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9)
Sept. 6, 2011 CA AB 1236 Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2011 GA HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Aug. 31, 2011 GA HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Aug. 29, 2011 CA AB 46 Small City Disincorporation Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
Aug. 23, 2011 GA HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
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. 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. 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. 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)
Aug. 3, 2011 WV SB 1006 Redistricing State Senate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
Aug. 2, 2011 National S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 26)
July 31, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
July 29, 2011 National S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Tabled - Senate (59 - 41)
July 27, 2011 NC SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
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 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 25, 2011 NC SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
July 22, 2011 National HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 46)
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)
July 19, 2011 WI SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
July 19, 2011 WI SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
July 14, 2011 CA AB 459 National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 29, 2011 MI SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
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 29, 2011 MI HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 27, 2011 TX SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
June 23, 2011 National S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
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 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 20, 2011 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
June 20, 2011 NJ S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 15, 2011 OH SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
June 15, 2011 TX SB 9 Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
June 15, 2011 OH SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
June 10, 2011 ME LD 1376 Repeal Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14)
June 10, 2011 OR SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
June 10, 2011 OR SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
June 9, 2011 AL HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
June 9, 2011 AL HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
June 8, 2011 WI SB 116 Relating to Overseas Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
June 6, 2011 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
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)
June 2, 2011 AL SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
June 2, 2011 LA HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/14 HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
12/14 S J Res 10 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
12/14 HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
12/14 SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
12/14 S J Res 24 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79)
12/14 SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
12/06 PN 5 Nomination of Caitlin Joan Halligan to the District of Columbia Circuit Court Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
11/10 HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
11/10 S J Res 27 Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
11/10 SB 693 Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/09 HB 1473 New Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
11/09 HB 1473 New Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
11/07 HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
11/07 HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
11/07 SB 689 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/07 SB 283 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/07 SB 283 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/07 SB 689 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/03 HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
10/24 HB 1001 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
10/24 HB 1001 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
10/20 HB 318 Establishing New Dates for Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
10/20 SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
10/20 SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
10/18 SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
10/17 SB 3002 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
10/17 SB 3002 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
10/17 SS for HCS for HB 3 Presidential Elections Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 16)
10/04 HB 3001 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
10/04 HB 3001 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
9/23 HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/23 HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/21 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
9/21 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
9/21 SB 33 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
9/21 SB 33 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
9/19 SB 22 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
9/19 SB 22 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14)
9/13 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
9/10 SB 202 Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/09 SB 922 Project Labor Agreements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
9/09 SB 51 Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
9/09 SB 292 Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
9/07 SB 129 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 17)
9/07 SB 154 Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9)
9/06 AB 1236 Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
8/31 HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
8/31 HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
8/29 AB 46 Small City Disincorporation Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
8/23 HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
8/23 HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
8/21 HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
8/21 HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
8/18 SB 1EX State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
8/18 SB 1EX State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
8/05 SB 1008 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1)
8/05 SB 1008 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1)
8/03 SB 1006 Redistricing State Senate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
8/03 SB 1006 Redistricing State Senate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
8/02 S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 26)
7/31 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
7/29 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Tabled - Senate (59 - 41)
7/27 SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
7/27 SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
7/27 HB 937 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
7/27 HB 937 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
7/25 SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
7/25 SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
7/22 HR 2560 Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 46)
7/19 SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
7/19 SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
7/19 SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
7/19 SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
7/14 AB 459 National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/29 SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/29 SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/29 HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/29 HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/27 SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
6/23 S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
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)
6/22 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)
6/20 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
6/20 S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/15 SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
6/15 SB 9 Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
6/15 SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
6/10 LD 1376 Repeal Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14)
6/10 SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
6/10 SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
6/09 HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
6/09 HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
6/08 SB 116 Relating to Overseas Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
6/06 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/06 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/02 SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
6/02 SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
6/02 HB 591 Permanent Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)

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