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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2011 | GA | SB 10 | Alcoholic Beverage Sales on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (127 - 44) |
| April 12, 2011 | AR | SB 972 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 20) |
| April 11, 2011 | LA | SB 1 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| April 8, 2011 | ND | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 18) |
| April 6, 2011 | MS | SCR 692 | Redistricting the State House and Senate | Bill Passed - House (63 - 53) |
| April 6, 2011 | MO | HB 193 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (106 - 53) |
| March 24, 2011 | FL | HB 1207 | Campaign Financing Act | Veto Override Passed - House (81 - 39) |
| March 24, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (101 - 48) |
| March 22, 2011 | AL | HB 19 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| March 21, 2011 | AR | HB 1797 | Requires Proof of Identity to Vote | Bill Passed - House (53 - 36) |
| March 4, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| March 4, 2011 | MS | JR 1 | Redistricting for House of Representatives | Bill Passed - House (66 - 56) |
| March 3, 2011 | MT | HB 521 | Referendum to Revise Judicial Election Laws | Bill Failed - House (45 - 54) |
| March 2, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - House (123 - 30) |
| March 2, 2011 | WV | HB 2732 | Increased Fees for Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| Feb. 25, 2011 | KS | HB 2067 | Voter Photographic Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (83 - 36) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | KS | HB 2130 | Prohibits Union Dues for Political Activities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 46) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | CO | HB 1003 | Changes to Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | GA | HB 92 | Limits Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (148 - 20) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | ND | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| Feb. 4, 2011 | MT | HB 180 | Revise Close of Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| Jan. 28, 2011 | MT | HB 130 | Expansion of Elections that Can Be Conducted By Mail | Bill Failed - House (42 - 57) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | National | HR 359 | Abolishing Federal Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (239 - 160) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| Jan. 4, 2011 | IL | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| July 20, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - House (116 - 34) |
| July 19, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Agreed - House (85 - 5) |
| July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Rejected - House (51 - 34) |
| July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Passed - House (46 - 37) |
| July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Failed - House (42 - 45) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| July 6, 2010 | NC | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
| June 24, 2010 | National | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6187 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6183 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6186 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6184 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 671 | Evacuee Requirements for Running for Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 24) |
| June 17, 2010 | MI | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
| June 2, 2010 | NH | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Rejected - House (135 - 184) |
| June 2, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| April 30, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 19, 2010 | AZ | Burges Amdt | Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate | Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31) |
| April 14, 2010 | LA | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| March 18, 2010 | FL | HB 1207 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| March 3, 2010 | WV | HB 4130 | Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| March 1, 2010 | WV | HB 4647 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| March 1, 2010 | WV | HB 4646 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| March 1, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 118 | Prohibiting Lobbyist and Contractor Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | KY | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | WY | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | ME | LD 56 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (50 - 95) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | NY | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 2) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | OH | HB 5 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (48 - 50) |
| Nov. 18, 2009 | OH | HB 260 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | HB 198 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (23 - 12) |
| June 18, 2009 | RI | H 5569 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (28 - 45) |
| June 9, 2009 | DE | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| June 3, 2009 | LA | HB 243 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
| June 2, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
| May 31, 2009 | IL | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| May 30, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| May 28, 2009 | RI | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| May 26, 2009 | CT | HB 6435 | Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (81 - 65) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| May 19, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | SB 10 | Alcoholic Beverage Sales on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (127 - 44) |
| 4/12 | SB 972 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 20) |
| 4/11 | SB 1 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| 4/08 | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 18) |
| 4/06 | SCR 692 | Redistricting the State House and Senate | Bill Passed - House (63 - 53) |
| 4/06 | HB 193 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (106 - 53) |
| 3/24 | HB 1207 | Campaign Financing Act | Veto Override Passed - House (81 - 39) |
| 3/24 | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (101 - 48) |
| 3/22 | HB 19 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| 3/21 | HB 1797 | Requires Proof of Identity to Vote | Bill Passed - House (53 - 36) |
| 3/04 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| 3/04 | JR 1 | Redistricting for House of Representatives | Bill Passed - House (66 - 56) |
| 3/03 | HB 521 | Referendum to Revise Judicial Election Laws | Bill Failed - House (45 - 54) |
| 3/02 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - House (123 - 30) |
| 3/02 | HB 2732 | Increased Fees for Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| 2/25 | HB 2067 | Voter Photographic Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (83 - 36) |
| 2/24 | HB 2130 | Prohibits Union Dues for Political Activities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 46) |
| 2/22 | HB 1003 | Changes to Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/22 | HB 92 | Limits Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (148 - 20) |
| 2/17 | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| 2/04 | HB 180 | Revise Close of Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 1/28 | HB 130 | Expansion of Elections that Can Be Conducted By Mail | Bill Failed - House (42 - 57) |
| 1/26 | HR 359 | Abolishing Federal Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (239 - 160) |
| 1/26 | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| 1/04 | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 8/23 | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| 7/20 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - House (116 - 34) |
| 7/19 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Agreed - House (85 - 5) |
| 7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Rejected - House (51 - 34) |
| 7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Passed - House (46 - 37) |
| 7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Failed - House (42 - 45) |
| 7/10 | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| 7/06 | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
| 6/24 | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
| 6/22 | HB 6187 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| 6/22 | HB 6183 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| 6/22 | HB 6186 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| 6/22 | HB 6184 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
| 6/20 | HB 671 | Evacuee Requirements for Running for Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 24) |
| 6/17 | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| 6/09 | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
| 6/02 | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Rejected - House (135 - 184) |
| 6/02 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
| 5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| 4/30 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/19 | Burges Amdt | Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate | Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31) |
| 4/14 | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 3/18 | HB 1207 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| 3/03 | HB 4130 | Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| 3/01 | HB 4647 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| 3/01 | HB 4646 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| 3/01 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| 2/16 | HB 118 | Prohibiting Lobbyist and Contractor Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 2/10 | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 2/10 | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
| 2/02 | LD 56 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (50 - 95) |
| 1/20 | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 2) |
| 1/13 | HB 5 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (48 - 50) |
| 11/18 | HB 260 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
| 9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
| 9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| 6/24 | HB 198 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (23 - 12) |
| 6/18 | H 5569 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (28 - 45) |
| 6/09 | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| 6/03 | HB 243 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
| 6/02 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
| 5/31 | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| 5/30 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| 5/28 | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| 5/26 | HB 6435 | Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (81 - 65) |
| 5/21 | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 5/21 | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 5/19 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |