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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | SB 223 | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements | Bill Passed - House (59 - 34) |
Oct. 15, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1) |
Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | WI | AB 138 | Board Appointment of the Secretary of Natural Resources | Bill Passed - House (61 - 32) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
Sept. 16, 2009 | MO | HB 544 | Increasing Legislative Oversight of Federal Funds | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 71) |
Sept. 15, 2009 | National | H Res 744 | Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct | Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179) |
Aug. 6, 2009 | National | PN 506 | Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31) |
June 24, 2009 | LA | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
June 22, 2009 | LA | Amendment # B-483 | Shortening the Period Before Budget Records are Public | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 54) |
June 22, 2009 | LA | Amendment # B-480 | Making Records of the Governor Public | Amendment Rejected - House (47 - 50) |
June 22, 2009 | LA | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Bill Passed - House (62 - 41) |
June 22, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
June 18, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18) |
June 16, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
June 2, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
May 30, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
May 29, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
April 29, 2009 | ID | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 16) |
April 16, 2009 | ID | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
April 13, 2009 | CO | SB 273 | Appropriation of Pinnacol Assurance Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
April 13, 2009 | CO | SB 281 | Clarifying Pinnacol Assurance as a Subdivision of the State | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
April 2, 2009 | MO | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
April 1, 2009 | GA | SB 200 | Reorganization of the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - House (90 - 84) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
March 5, 2009 | GA | SB 200 | Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | NM | SB 141 | Allowing Increase of Penalties for Convicted Public Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
Feb. 17, 2009 | OK | HB 1410 | State Purchasing Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
Feb. 11, 2009 | WY | HB 32 | Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments | Bill Failed - House (7 - 52) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | WY | HB 240 | Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | SB 1473 | Department of Forestry Land Use Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
Jan. 28, 2009 | MT | HB 13 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | WI | AB 2 | Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | WI | AB 1 | Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | AR | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
Jan. 22, 2009 | MS | HB 1090 | Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight | Bill Passed - House (64 - 53) |
Jan. 21, 2009 | MT | SB 31 | Revising Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission Membership Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
Jan. 14, 2009 | IL | HR 5 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1) |
Jan. 13, 2009 | ND | HB 1036 | Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
Jan. 9, 2009 | IL | HR 1671 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
11/05 | SB 223 | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Geographic Composition Requirements | Bill Passed - House (59 - 34) |
10/15 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1) |
10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 92) |
10/08 | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
9/22 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/22 | AB 138 | Board Appointment of the Secretary of Natural Resources | Bill Passed - House (61 - 32) |
9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
9/16 | HB 544 | Increasing Legislative Oversight of Federal Funds | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 71) |
9/15 | H Res 744 | Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct | Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179) |
8/06 | PN 506 | Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31) |
6/24 | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
6/22 | Amendment # B-483 | Shortening the Period Before Budget Records are Public | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 54) |
6/22 | Amendment # B-480 | Making Records of the Governor Public | Amendment Rejected - House (47 - 50) |
6/22 | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Bill Passed - House (62 - 41) |
6/22 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
6/18 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18) |
6/16 | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
6/02 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
5/30 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
5/29 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
5/21 | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
4/29 | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 16) |
4/16 | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
4/13 | SB 273 | Appropriation of Pinnacol Assurance Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
4/13 | SB 281 | Clarifying Pinnacol Assurance as a Subdivision of the State | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
4/02 | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
4/01 | SB 200 | Reorganization of the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - House (90 - 84) |
3/10 | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
3/10 | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
3/05 | SB 200 | Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
2/25 | SB 141 | Allowing Increase of Penalties for Convicted Public Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12) |
2/18 | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
2/17 | HB 1410 | State Purchasing Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
2/11 | HB 32 | Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments | Bill Failed - House (7 - 52) |
2/09 | HB 240 | Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
2/04 | SB 1473 | Department of Forestry Land Use Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
2/02 | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
2/02 | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
1/28 | HB 13 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
1/27 | AB 2 | Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
1/27 | AB 1 | Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
1/27 | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
1/22 | HB 1090 | Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight | Bill Passed - House (64 - 53) |
1/21 | SB 31 | Revising Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission Membership Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
1/14 | HR 5 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1) |
1/13 | HB 1036 | Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
1/09 | HR 1671 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1) |