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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |