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
May 30, 2011 NV AB 301 Voting Privileges for Felons Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
July 14, 2011 CA AB 459 National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 15)
July 14, 2011 CA AB 459 National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
May 25, 2011 NV AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
May 18, 2011 NV AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
May 11, 2011 WI AB 7 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
May 11, 2011 SC H 3003 Voter ID Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16)
April 26, 2011 SC H 3003 Voter ID Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 36)
Feb. 10, 2011 SC H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 17)
Jan. 26, 2011 SC H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - House (74 - 45)
June 14, 2011 SC H 3992 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (83 - 25)
April 11, 2011 LA HB 1 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
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 - House (50 - 18)
Feb. 22, 2011 CO HB 1003 Changes to Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
March 24, 2011 FL HB 1207 Campaign Financing Act Veto Override Passed - House (81 - 39)
March 24, 2011 FL HB 1207 Campaign Financing Act Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
April 8, 2011 ND HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 18)
April 7, 2011 ND HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Feb. 17, 2011 ND HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (72 - 21)
Jan. 28, 2011 MT HB 130 Expansion of Elections that Can Be Conducted By Mail Bill Failed - House (42 - 57)
May 10, 2011 CO HB 1319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
Nov. 9, 2011 ND HB 1473 New Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Nov. 8, 2011 ND HB 1473 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (60 - 32)
May 21, 2011 TX HB 150 2011-2012 Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
April 28, 2011 TX HB 150 2011-2012 Redistricting Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
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 28, 2011 IN HB 1602 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32)
March 21, 2011 AR HB 1797 Requires Proof of Identity to Vote Bill Passed - House (53 - 36)
Feb. 4, 2011 MT HB 180 Revise Close of Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
March 22, 2011 AL HB 19 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (64 - 31)
May 4, 2011 MO HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
May 4, 2011 MO HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Plan Veto Override Passed - House (109 - 44)
April 13, 2011 MO HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
April 6, 2011 MO HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (106 - 53)
Aug. 23, 2011 GA HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
Aug. 18, 2011 GA HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (108 - 64)
Aug. 21, 2011 WV HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
Aug. 20, 2011 WV HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
Feb. 25, 2011 KS HB 2067 Voter Photographic Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 36)
Aug. 31, 2011 GA HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Aug. 25, 2011 GA HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (110 - 60)
Feb. 24, 2011 KS HB 2130 Prohibits Union Dues for Political Activities Bill Passed - House (75 - 46)
May 16, 2011 OK HB 2145 State House Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4)
April 13, 2011 AZ HB 2177 Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Presidential Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
March 2, 2011 WV HB 2732 Increased Fees for Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
Oct. 4, 2011 UT HB 3001 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 1)
Oct. 4, 2011 UT HB 3001 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
Oct. 20, 2011 OH HB 318 Establishing New Dates for Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Oct. 21, 2011 OH HB 318 Establishing New Dates for Primaries Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 37)
Sept. 21, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 35)
Sept. 21, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Sept. 15, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 36)
Dec. 14, 2011 OH HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Dec. 14, 2011 OH HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (77 - 17)
Sept. 23, 2011 NM HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 22, 2011 NM HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
Nov. 9, 2011 MI HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 39)
Nov. 3, 2011 MI HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Aug. 24, 2011 MI HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Bill Passed - House (72 - 36)
June 29, 2011 MI HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 22, 2011 MI HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (63 - 47)
April 11, 2011 VA HB 5001 Legislative Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
April 28, 2011 VA HB 5005 Redistricting for State Senate and House Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 7)
March 3, 2011 MT HB 521 Referendum to Revise Judicial Election Laws Bill Failed - House (45 - 54)
April 13, 2011 LA HB 6 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 35)
April 13, 2011 LA HB 6 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
May 18, 2011 CT HB 6342 Attorney General Candidate Qualifications Bill Passed - House (91 - 51)
May 18, 2011 NC HB 658 Amending Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (60 - 58)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (62 - 49)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
April 11, 2011 GA HB 92 Limits Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
Feb. 22, 2011 GA HB 92 Limits Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - House (148 - 20)
March 4, 2011 PA HB 934 Amends Voter Identification Laws
June 23, 2011 PA HB 934 Amends Voter Identification Laws Bill Passed - House (108 - 88)
July 27, 2011 NC HB 937 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 53)
July 27, 2011 NC HB 937 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
May 6, 2011 MN HF 1425 Legislative Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
May 17, 2011 MN HF 1425 Legislative Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 29)
May 17, 2011 MN HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
May 13, 2011 MN HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - House (71 - 61)
April 14, 2011 IA HF 682 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
Dec. 1, 2011 National HR 3463 Repeals Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (235 - 190)
Jan. 26, 2011 National HR 359 Abolishing Federal Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (239 - 160)
March 4, 2011 MS JR 1 Redistricting for House of Representatives Bill Passed - House (66 - 56)
May 26, 2011 NE LB 703 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
May 26, 2011 NE LB 704 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
June 10, 2011 ME LD 1376 Repeal Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14)
June 9, 2011 ME LD 1376 Repeals Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (72 - 65)
March 30, 2011 ID S 1198 Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
May 9, 2011 NJ S 2756 Authorizes Registered Voters to Receive Mail-In Ballots Automatically Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
March 21, 2011 NJ S 2756 Authorizes Registered Voters to Receive Mail-In Ballots Automatically Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Feb. 22, 2011 VT S 31 Electing the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
March 14, 2011 NY S 3331 Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 24)
June 30, 2011 RI S 400 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (51 - 22)
May 12, 2011 RI S 400 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 2, 2011 MA S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (123 - 30)
Feb. 10, 2011 MA S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Oct. 20, 2011 MD SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/30 AB 301 Voting Privileges for Felons Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
7/14 AB 459 National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 15)
7/14 AB 459 National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
5/25 AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
5/18 AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
5/11 AB 7 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
5/11 H 3003 Voter ID Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16)
4/26 H 3003 Voter ID Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 36)
2/10 H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 17)
1/26 H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - House (74 - 45)
6/14 H 3992 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (83 - 25)
4/11 HB 1 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
10/24 HB 1001 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
10/24 HB 1001 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
2/22 HB 1003 Changes to Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
3/24 HB 1207 Campaign Financing Act Veto Override Passed - House (81 - 39)
3/24 HB 1207 Campaign Financing Act Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
4/08 HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 18)
4/07 HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
2/17 HB 1267 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (72 - 21)
1/28 HB 130 Expansion of Elections that Can Be Conducted By Mail Bill Failed - House (42 - 57)
5/10 HB 1319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
11/09 HB 1473 New Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
11/08 HB 1473 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (60 - 32)
5/21 HB 150 2011-2012 Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
4/28 HB 150 2011-2012 Redistricting Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
5/03 HB 1527 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 5)
4/27 HB 1601 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
4/28 HB 1602 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32)
3/21 HB 1797 Requires Proof of Identity to Vote Bill Passed - House (53 - 36)
2/04 HB 180 Revise Close of Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
3/22 HB 19 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (64 - 31)
5/04 HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
5/04 HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Plan Veto Override Passed - House (109 - 44)
4/13 HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
4/06 HB 193 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (106 - 53)
8/23 HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
8/18 HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (108 - 64)
8/21 HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
8/20 HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
2/25 HB 2067 Voter Photographic Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 36)
8/31 HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
8/25 HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (110 - 60)
2/24 HB 2130 Prohibits Union Dues for Political Activities Bill Passed - House (75 - 46)
5/16 HB 2145 State House Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4)
4/13 HB 2177 Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Presidential Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
3/02 HB 2732 Increased Fees for Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
10/04 HB 3001 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 1)
10/04 HB 3001 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
10/20 HB 318 Establishing New Dates for Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
10/21 HB 318 Establishing New Dates for Primaries Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 37)
9/21 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 35)
9/21 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
9/15 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 36)
12/14 HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
12/14 HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (77 - 17)
9/23 HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/22 HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
11/09 HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 39)
11/03 HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
8/24 HB 4005 School Board Election Dates Bill Passed - House (72 - 36)
6/29 HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/22 HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (63 - 47)
4/11 HB 5001 Legislative Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
4/28 HB 5005 Redistricting for State Senate and House Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 7)
3/03 HB 521 Referendum to Revise Judicial Election Laws Bill Failed - House (45 - 54)
4/13 HB 6 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 35)
4/13 HB 6 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
5/18 HB 6342 Attorney General Candidate Qualifications Bill Passed - House (91 - 51)
5/18 HB 658 Amending Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (60 - 58)
11/07 HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (62 - 49)
11/07 HB 777 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
4/11 HB 92 Limits Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
2/22 HB 92 Limits Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - House (148 - 20)
3/04 HB 934 Amends Voter Identification Laws
6/23 HB 934 Amends Voter Identification Laws Bill Passed - House (108 - 88)
7/27 HB 937 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 53)
7/27 HB 937 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
5/06 HF 1425 Legislative Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
5/17 HF 1425 Legislative Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 29)
5/17 HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
5/13 HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - House (71 - 61)
4/14 HF 682 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
12/01 HR 3463 Repeals Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (235 - 190)
1/26 HR 359 Abolishing Federal Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (239 - 160)
3/04 JR 1 Redistricting for House of Representatives Bill Passed - House (66 - 56)
5/26 LB 703 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
5/26 LB 704 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
6/10 LD 1376 Repeal Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14)
6/09 LD 1376 Repeals Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (72 - 65)
3/30 S 1198 Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
5/09 S 2756 Authorizes Registered Voters to Receive Mail-In Ballots Automatically Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
3/21 S 2756 Authorizes Registered Voters to Receive Mail-In Ballots Automatically Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
2/22 S 31 Electing the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
3/14 S 3331 Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 24)
6/30 S 400 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (51 - 22)
5/12 S 400 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/02 S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (123 - 30)
2/10 S 9 Establishing a Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
10/20 SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13)

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