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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 24, 2012 | AZ | SB 1182 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
Aug. 23, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | CO | SB 147 | Prohibits False Information Regarding Election Procedures and Voter Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 5, 2012 | CT | HB 5024 | Authorizes Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 469 | Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | ID | H 404 | Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | KY | SB 103 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
May 29, 2012 | LA | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
June 13, 2012 | MI | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
June 13, 2012 | MI | SB 803 | Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | MI | SB 751 | Photo Identification Requirements for Absentee Voters | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | MI | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
April 5, 2012 | MN | HF 2738 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
April 10, 2012 | MS | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
Dec. 28, 2012 | National | HR 5949 | FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23) |
Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3245 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
Dec. 4, 2012 | National | Treaty Doc. 112-7 | The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Treaty Ratification Failed - Senate (61 - 38) |
Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3018 | Prohibits the Indefinite Detention of Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents | Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 29) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
June 6, 2012 | NH | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 5) |
June 6, 2012 | NH | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6) |
March 21, 2012 | NH | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
March 7, 2012 | NH | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
Feb. 15, 2012 | OK | SB 1433 | Defines life as beginning at conception | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
March 7, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
Jan. 30, 2012 | SD | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | TN | HB 2638 | Prohibits Camping in Non-Designated Areas of Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 6, 2012 | VA | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 21, 2012 | WI | SB 386 | Removes Voter Registration at High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
4/24 | SB 1182 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
8/23 | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
2/23 | SB 147 | Prohibits False Information Regarding Election Procedures and Voter Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
5/05 | HB 5024 | Authorizes Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
3/07 | SB 469 | Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
2/14 | H 404 | Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
2/14 | SB 103 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
5/29 | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
6/13 | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
6/13 | SB 803 | Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
2/14 | SB 751 | Photo Identification Requirements for Absentee Voters | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
2/14 | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
4/05 | HF 2738 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
4/10 | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
12/28 | HR 5949 | FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23) |
11/29 | S Amdt 3245 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
12/04 | Treaty Doc. 112-7 | The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Treaty Ratification Failed - Senate (61 - 38) |
11/29 | S Amdt 3018 | Prohibits the Indefinite Detention of Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents | Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 29) |
6/27 | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
6/27 | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
6/06 | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 5) |
6/06 | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6) |
3/21 | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
3/07 | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
2/15 | SB 1433 | Defines life as beginning at conception | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
3/07 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
1/30 | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
2/23 | HB 2638 | Prohibits Camping in Non-Designated Areas of Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
2/27 | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
2/06 | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
2/21 | SB 386 | Removes Voter Registration at High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |