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
Dec. 3, 2012 NJ A 2166 Requires Legislative Approval of Port Authority Minutes Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
Oct. 18, 2012 NJ A 2870 Establishes Online Vote Registration Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
June 25, 2012 NJ A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 30)
June 25, 2012 NJ A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (98 - 44)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (98 - 44)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9556 Authorizes Casino Gambling Amendment Adopted - Senate (36 - 0)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9556 Authorizes Casino Gambling Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45)
Jan. 31, 2012 CA AB 1148 Requires Political Advertisements to Disclose Funding Sources Bill Failed - House (52 - 26)
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)
May 31, 2012 CA AB 1436 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
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)
Aug. 29, 2012 CA ACA 10 Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30)
Aug. 29, 2012 CA ACA 10 Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30)
March 22, 2012 CA AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
March 22, 2012 CA AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
March 6, 2012 WI AJR 63 Limits Recalls of Elected Officials Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37)
March 6, 2012 WI AJR 63 Limits Recalls of Elected Officials Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37)
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)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Rejected - House (224 - 144)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Rejected - House (224 - 144)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
Jan. 18, 2012 NH CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
Jan. 18, 2012 NH CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
May 16, 2012 NH CACR 26 Authorizes the Legislature to Amend Supreme Court Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
May 16, 2012 NH CACR 26 Authorizes the Legislature to Amend Supreme Court Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Rejected - House (220 - 132)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Rejected - House (220 - 132)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
Feb. 15, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
Feb. 15, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
Feb. 1, 2012 WA EHCR 4409 Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
Feb. 1, 2012 WA EHCR 4409 Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
March 23, 2012 ID H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 15, 2012 ID H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - House (56 - 10)
March 28, 2012 ID H 660 Amends the Judicial Retirement Fund Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
March 28, 2012 ID H 695 Establishes a Legislative Legal Defense Fund Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 26, 2012 ID H 695 Establishes a Legislative Legal Defense Fund Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
May 31, 2012 MA H Amdt 11 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43)
Jan. 27, 2012 IN H Amdt 3 Drug and Alcohol Testing for Legislators Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 40)
Jan. 19, 2012 KY HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
Jan. 19, 2012 KY HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
Jan. 18, 2012 KY HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Jan. 18, 2012 KY HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/03 A 2166 Requires Legislative Approval of Port Authority Minutes Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
10/18 A 2870 Establishes Online Vote Registration Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
6/25 A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 30)
6/25 A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/14 A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
3/14 A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
3/14 A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (98 - 44)
3/14 A 9525 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (98 - 44)
3/14 A 9556 Authorizes Casino Gambling Amendment Adopted - Senate (36 - 0)
3/14 A 9556 Authorizes Casino Gambling Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45)
1/31 AB 1148 Requires Political Advertisements to Disclose Funding Sources Bill Failed - House (52 - 26)
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)
5/31 AB 1436 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
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)
8/29 ACA 10 Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30)
8/29 ACA 10 Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30)
3/22 AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
3/22 AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
3/06 AJR 63 Limits Recalls of Elected Officials Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37)
3/06 AJR 63 Limits Recalls of Elected Officials Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37)
10/18 AR 86 Opposes the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United Versus Federal Elections Commission Resolution Passed - House (49 - 23)
6/06 CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Rejected - House (224 - 144)
6/06 CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Rejected - House (224 - 144)
6/06 CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
6/06 CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
1/18 CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
1/18 CACR 13 Prohibits New Personal Income Taxes Resolution Passed - House (257 - 101)
5/16 CACR 26 Authorizes the Legislature to Amend Supreme Court Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
5/16 CACR 26 Authorizes the Legislature to Amend Supreme Court Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
6/06 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Rejected - House (220 - 132)
6/06 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Rejected - House (220 - 132)
6/06 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
6/06 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
2/15 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
2/15 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
2/01 EHCR 4409 Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
2/01 EHCR 4409 Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
3/23 H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/15 H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - House (56 - 10)
3/28 H 660 Amends the Judicial Retirement Fund Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
3/28 H 695 Establishes a Legislative Legal Defense Fund Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/26 H 695 Establishes a Legislative Legal Defense Fund Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
5/31 H Amdt 11 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Amendment Adopted - House (105 - 43)
1/27 H Amdt 3 Drug and Alcohol Testing for Legislators Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 40)
1/19 HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
1/19 HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
1/18 HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
1/18 HB 1 State Senate, House, and Judicial Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)

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