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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 19, 2008 | CA | GN Borucki | Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3) |
Aug. 30, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1819 | Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Aug. 16, 2006 | CA | SCA 3 | Redistricting Commission | Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
March 6, 2007 | CA | SB 113 | Presidential Primaries | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
Feb. 13, 2007 | CA | SB 113 | Presidential Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
May 30, 2006 | CA | AB 2948 | Electoral College: Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - House (49 - 31) |
Jan. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 583 | California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
March 10, 2014 | CA | AB 800 | Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 19) |
Feb. 20, 2014 | CA | AB 800 | Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
May 8, 2014 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Certain Nonprofit Organizations to Disclose Donors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
May 5, 2014 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Certain Nonprofit Organizations to Disclose Donors | Bill Passed - House (58 - 12) |
Aug. 20, 2015 | CA | AB 1100 | Increases Ballot Initiative Fee | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 31) |
Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | SB 314 | Establishes an Independent Citizen's Redistricting Commission in Sacramento County | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Sept. 5, 2023 | CA | AB 421 | Amends the Signature Gathering Process for Ballot Initiatives | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1248 | Requires Local Jurisdictions by 2030 Form Independent Redistricting Commissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 16) |
Aug. 30, 2022 | CA | SB 1360 | Amends the California Election Code to Require Transparency of Contributors and Advertisements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
June 28, 2021 | CA | SB 152 | Authorizes a Recall Election without the Approval of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 646 | Authorizes Individuals on Parole for a Felony Conviction to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 16) |
June 18, 2020 | CA | AB 860 | Authorizes Vote By Mail Absentee Ballots | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 5) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13) |
July 2, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 14) |
Aug. 8, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
Sept. 10, 2011 | CA | SB 202 | Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
July 14, 2011 | CA | AB 459 | National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 15) |
Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
June 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 24) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 29) |
Sept. 11, 2023 | CA | SB 314 | Establishes an Independent Citizen's Redistricting Commission in Sacramento County | Bill Passed - House (62 - 18) |
July 8, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
Aug. 17, 2015 | CA | AB 1100 | Increases Ballot Initiative Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
June 21, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
June 11, 2020 | CA | AB 860 | Authorizes Vote By Mail Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Aug. 28, 2020 | CA | AB 646 | Authorizes Individuals on Parole for a Felony Conviction to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
June 28, 2021 | CA | SB 152 | Authorizes a Recall Election without the Approval of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee | Bill Passed - House (59 - 19) |
Sept. 2, 2021 | CA | SB 660 | Prohibits Recall Organizers from Paying Signature Gatherers on a Per-Signature Basis | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
Aug. 23, 2022 | CA | SB 1360 | Amends the California Election Code to Require Transparency of Contributors and Advertisements | Bill Passed - House (62 - 10) |
Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | AB 1248 | Requires Local Jurisdictions by 2030 Form Independent Redistricting Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
Sept. 5, 2023 | CA | AB 421 | Amends the Signature Gathering Process for Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
June 23, 2014 | CA | AJR 1 | Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (53 - 23) |
Sept. 3, 2021 | CA | SB 594 | Amends Redistricting Regulations for Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
Feb. 16, 2021 | CA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Continuation of Mail-In Ballots | Bill Passed - House (55 - 15) |
Aug. 16, 2016 | CA | AB 2466 | Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 202 | Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election | Bill Passed - House (45 - 30) |
July 14, 2011 | CA | AB 459 | National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Aug. 23, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
June 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
May 31, 2016 | CA | AB 2466 | Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
March 20, 2017 | CA | AB 18 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Appropriate $3 Billion to State Parks | Bill Passed - House (59 - 19) |
May 4, 2017 | CA | AB 84 | Authorizes Earlier Presidential Primary | Bill Passed - House (52 - 20) |
April 5, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1253 | Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
May 2, 2019 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
July 14, 2011 | CA | SB 168 | Prohibits Paid Signature-Gatherers | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
Jan. 28, 2021 | CA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Continuation of Mail-In Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
May 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1873 | Authorizes the Use of Mail Ballots During Special Elections | Bill Passed - House (44 - 32) |
April 4, 2013 | CA | AB 131 | Amends Voter Registration Requirements | Bill Passed - House (47 - 23) |
Jan. 30, 2014 | CA | AJR 1 | Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United | Bill Passed - House (51 - 20) |
May 26, 2015 | CA | AB 1100 | Increases Ballot Initiative Fee | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
May 26, 2015 | CA | AB 884 | Requires the Attorney General to Denote Ballot Initiatives That May Be Unconstitutional | Bill Passed - House (50 - 26) |
June 2, 2015 | CA | AB 1461 | Establishes the California New Motor Voter Program | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
May 23, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 23) |
May 9, 2011 | CA | SB 168 | Prohibits Paid Signature-Gatherers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | ACA 10 | Limits Citizen-led Initiatives to Amend the State Constitution | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 30) |
Jan. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1148 | Requires Political Advertisements to Disclose Funding Sources | Bill Failed - House (52 - 26) |