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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 18, 2012 | NJ | AR 86 | Opposes the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United Versus Federal Elections Commission | Resolution Passed - House (49 - 23) |
Oct. 18, 2012 | NJ | A 2870 | Establishes Online Vote Registration | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
Sept. 19, 2012 | National | HR 5912 | Prohibits Public Funding for Political Party Conventions | Bill Passed - House (310 - 95) |
Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | ACA 10 | Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 29) |
Aug. 23, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
July 17, 2012 | National | S 3369 | DISCLOSE Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - House (231 - 112) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Veto Override Passed - House (232 - 110) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
June 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 24) |
June 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
June 13, 2012 | MI | SB 803 | Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
June 13, 2012 | MI | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
June 12, 2012 | MI | SB 803 | Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 43) |
June 12, 2012 | MI | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
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) |
June 6, 2012 | NH | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (260 - 101) |
June 6, 2012 | NH | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (255 - 103) |
May 31, 2012 | MA | H Amdt 11 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43) |
May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
May 29, 2012 | LA | HB 209 | Reduces Voting Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
May 24, 2012 | AL | HB 19 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 24, 2012 | AL | SB 25 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
May 22, 2012 | LA | HB 292 | School Board Member Term Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
May 22, 2012 | AL | SB 25 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
May 21, 2012 | AL | HB 19 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
May 10, 2012 | KS | SB 102 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
May 8, 2012 | CT | HB 5556 | Requires Corporations to Identify Top Donors for Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 8, 2012 | OH | SB 295 | Repealing Provisions of the Election Revision Code | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
May 8, 2012 | CT | HB 5556 | Requires Corporations to Identify Top Donors for Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (94 - 54) |
May 5, 2012 | CT | HB 5024 | Authorizes Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 3, 2012 | MS | JR 201 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 50) |
May 2, 2012 | MS | JR 1 | State House Redistricting | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
May 2, 2012 | MS | JR 201 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5) |
April 30, 2012 | CT | HB 5024 | Authorizes Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (83 - 59) |
April 26, 2012 | MS | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 39) |
April 26, 2012 | MS | JR 1 | State House Redistricting | Joint Resolution Passed - House (70 - 50) |
April 11, 2012 | NH | SB 202 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (239 - 95) |
April 10, 2012 | MS | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
April 10, 2012 | AZ | SB 1449 | Establishes a Recall Primary Election for a Recall Election | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
April 5, 2012 | MN | HF 2738 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 209 | Reduces Voting Hours | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
April 4, 2012 | CT | HJ 2 | Authorizes Absentee Ballots for Any Reason | Resolution Passed - House (97 - 50) |
April 3, 2012 | MN | HF 2738 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 57) |
March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1046 | Requires Proof of Citizenship for Presidential Candidates | Bill Passed - House (92 - 49) |
March 29, 2012 | MI | HB 5061 | Requires Photo Identification for Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (65 - 45) |
March 28, 2012 | NH | HB 592 | State House Redistricting | Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
10/18 | AR 86 | Opposes the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United Versus Federal Elections Commission | Resolution Passed - House (49 - 23) |
10/18 | A 2870 | Establishes Online Vote Registration | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
9/19 | HR 5912 | Prohibits Public Funding for Political Party Conventions | Bill Passed - House (310 - 95) |
8/29 | ACA 10 | Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30) |
8/27 | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 29) |
8/23 | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
7/17 | S 3369 | DISCLOSE Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
6/27 | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - House (231 - 112) |
6/27 | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Veto Override Passed - House (232 - 110) |
6/27 | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
6/27 | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
6/27 | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 24) |
6/27 | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
6/13 | SB 803 | Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
6/13 | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
6/12 | SB 803 | Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 43) |
6/12 | SB 754 | Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
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) |
6/06 | SB 318 | Requires In-State Residency to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (260 - 101) |
6/06 | SB 289 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (255 - 103) |
5/31 | H Amdt 11 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43) |
5/31 | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
5/29 | HB 209 | Reduces Voting Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
5/24 | HB 19 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
5/24 | SB 25 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
5/22 | HB 292 | School Board Member Term Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
5/22 | SB 25 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
5/21 | HB 19 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
5/10 | SB 102 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
5/08 | HB 5556 | Requires Corporations to Identify Top Donors for Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
5/08 | SB 295 | Repealing Provisions of the Election Revision Code | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
5/08 | HB 5556 | Requires Corporations to Identify Top Donors for Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (94 - 54) |
5/05 | HB 5024 | Authorizes Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
5/03 | JR 201 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 50) |
5/02 | JR 1 | State House Redistricting | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
5/02 | JR 201 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5) |
4/30 | HB 5024 | Authorizes Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (83 - 59) |
4/26 | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 39) |
4/26 | JR 1 | State House Redistricting | Joint Resolution Passed - House (70 - 50) |
4/11 | SB 202 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (239 - 95) |
4/10 | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
4/10 | SB 1449 | Establishes a Recall Primary Election for a Recall Election | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
4/05 | HF 2738 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
4/04 | HB 209 | Reduces Voting Hours | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
4/04 | HJ 2 | Authorizes Absentee Ballots for Any Reason | Resolution Passed - House (97 - 50) |
4/03 | HF 2738 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 57) |
3/29 | HB 1046 | Requires Proof of Citizenship for Presidential Candidates | Bill Passed - House (92 - 49) |
3/29 | HB 5061 | Requires Photo Identification for Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (65 - 45) |
3/28 | HB 592 | State House Redistricting | Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |