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
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)

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