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. 23, 2011 | MI | HB 4216 | Local Governments Fiscal Accountability | Bill Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | VT | S 31 | Electing the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | VT | S 31 | Electing the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | VT | S 31 | Electing the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | MT | SB 254 | Eminent Domain Over Federal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 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. 21, 2011 | AR | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | ND | HB 1263 | Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | MT | SB 228 | Prohibits Creation of Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 19, 2011 | National | H Amdt 155 | Prohibits Use of Funds for Step Increase for General Schedule Employees | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 230) |
| Feb. 19, 2011 | MT | SB 114 | Communication Between Federal Law Enforcement Officers and County Sheriffs | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 18, 2011 | MT | SB 268 | Election of Supreme Court Justices by District | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Feb. 18, 2011 | MT | SB 268 | Election of Supreme Court Justices by District | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | IA | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | IA | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | MO | SB 3 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | ND | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | ND | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | ID | H 117 | Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | AR | HB 1002 | Capital Gains Reduction Act | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | MT | HB 206 | Constitutional Amendment on Freedom to Choose Health Insurance Coverage | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 31) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | MT | HB 206 | Constitutional Amendment on Freedom to Choose Health Insurance Coverage | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 31) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | ND | HCR 3016 | Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Resolution Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | IA | SF 166 | Funding for Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | SC | H 3507 | Call For Constitutional Convention | Resolution Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| Feb. 15, 2011 | CA | AB 110 | Wrongful Death Claim of Josefa Godinez Merida | Resolution Passed - House (7 - 1) |
| Feb. 14, 2011 | AR | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| Feb. 11, 2011 | KS | HCR 5007 | Prohibiting Mandated Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (91 - 27) |
| Feb. 11, 2011 | KS | HCR 5007 | Prohibiting Mandated Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (91 - 27) |
| Feb. 10, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 17) |
| Feb. 10, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| Feb. 10, 2011 | MA | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | ID | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Feb. 5, 2011 | MT | SB 117 | Coordination Between Federal and Local Government | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 4, 2011 | MT | HB 180 | Revise Close of Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | NC | HB 2 | Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | IA | HF 111 | Purchase of Health Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | IA | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | ID | H 26 | Increment in fees for felonies and misdemeanors | Bill Failed - House (31 - 35) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | WY | SJ 2 | Health Care Decisions for Citizens | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Jan. 28, 2011 | MT | HB 130 | Expansion of Elections that Can Be Conducted By Mail | Bill Failed - House (42 - 57) |
| Jan. 27, 2011 | AR | SB 113 | Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Jan. 27, 2011 | MT | SB 106 | Lawsuit against Federal Health Care Law | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Jan. 27, 2011 | MT | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| Jan. 25, 2011 | WI | AB 5 | Requiring a Two-Thirds Vote in the Legislature for Tax Increases | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| Jan. 25, 2011 | WI | AB 7 | Small Business Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| Jan. 24, 2011 | VA | SB 949 | Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 1 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 2 | Tax Benefits for Health Savings Accounts | Bill Passed - House (66 - 28) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | AZ | SB 1001 | Request for Medicaid Waiver | Bill Passed - House (40 - 20) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 2 | Tax Benefits for Health Savings Accounts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | AR | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Passed - House (70 - 22) |
| Jan. 19, 2011 | NY | S 1892 | Limiting State Spending | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19) |
| Jan. 19, 2011 | NY | S 1919 | Amends Rules for Legislature | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19) |
| Jan. 18, 2011 | WI | SB 1 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| Jan. 13, 2011 | MT | HB 1 | Funding for Legislative Session | Bill Passed - House (67 - 32) |
| Jan. 11, 2011 | MO | HR 39 | Attorney General Challenge of the Federal Health Care Law | Resolution Passed - House (115 - 46) |
| Jan. 10, 2011 | IL | SB 3644 | Labor Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 49) |
| Jan. 4, 2011 | IL | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Jan. 4, 2011 | IL | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Dec. 2, 2010 | National | H Res 1737 | Censure for Representative Charles Rangel | Resolution Passed - House (333 - 79) |
| Nov. 30, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4697 | Prohibiting Earmarks | Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56) |
| Nov. 18, 2010 | National | HR 1722 | Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (254 - 152) |
| Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Nov. 17, 2010 | National | HR 3808 | Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 2 | Veto Override Failed - House (185 - 235) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| Sept. 30, 2010 | NJ | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Veto Override Failed - House (42 - 32) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | PA | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 45) |
| Sept. 22, 2010 | MI | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 48) |
| Sept. 22, 2010 | MI | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/23 | HB 4216 | Local Governments Fiscal Accountability | Bill Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| 2/22 | S 31 | Electing the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 2/22 | S 31 | Electing the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 2/22 | S 31 | Electing the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 2/22 | SB 254 | Eminent Domain Over Federal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 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) |
| 2/21 | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 2/21 | HB 1263 | Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| 2/21 | SB 228 | Prohibits Creation of Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 2/19 | H Amdt 155 | Prohibits Use of Funds for Step Increase for General Schedule Employees | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 230) |
| 2/19 | SB 114 | Communication Between Federal Law Enforcement Officers and County Sheriffs | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 2/18 | SB 268 | Election of Supreme Court Justices by District | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 2/18 | SB 268 | Election of Supreme Court Justices by District | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 2/17 | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| 2/17 | HF 260 | House Rule School Governance | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| 2/17 | SB 3 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 2/17 | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| 2/17 | HB 1267 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (72 - 21) |
| 2/16 | H 117 | Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 2/16 | HB 1002 | Capital Gains Reduction Act | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 2/16 | HB 206 | Constitutional Amendment on Freedom to Choose Health Insurance Coverage | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 31) |
| 2/16 | HB 206 | Constitutional Amendment on Freedom to Choose Health Insurance Coverage | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 31) |
| 2/16 | HCR 3016 | Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Resolution Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| 2/16 | SF 166 | Funding for Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 2/16 | H 3507 | Call For Constitutional Convention | Resolution Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| 2/15 | AB 110 | Wrongful Death Claim of Josefa Godinez Merida | Resolution Passed - House (7 - 1) |
| 2/14 | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| 2/11 | HCR 5007 | Prohibiting Mandated Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (91 - 27) |
| 2/11 | HCR 5007 | Prohibiting Mandated Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (91 - 27) |
| 2/10 | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 17) |
| 2/10 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| 2/10 | S 9 | Establishing a Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| 2/07 | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 2/05 | SB 117 | Coordination Between Federal and Local Government | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 2/04 | HB 180 | Revise Close of Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 2/02 | HB 2 | Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| 2/02 | HF 111 | Purchase of Health Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/01 | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| 2/01 | H 26 | Increment in fees for felonies and misdemeanors | Bill Failed - House (31 - 35) |
| 2/01 | SJ 2 | Health Care Decisions for Citizens | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| 1/28 | HB 130 | Expansion of Elections that Can Be Conducted By Mail | Bill Failed - House (42 - 57) |
| 1/27 | SB 113 | Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 1/27 | SB 106 | Lawsuit against Federal Health Care Law | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 1/27 | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 1/26 | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 1/26 | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| 1/25 | AB 5 | Requiring a Two-Thirds Vote in the Legislature for Tax Increases | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 1/25 | AB 7 | Small Business Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| 1/24 | SB 949 | Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 1/20 | SB 1 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 1/20 | SB 2 | Tax Benefits for Health Savings Accounts | Bill Passed - House (66 - 28) |
| 1/20 | SB 1001 | Request for Medicaid Waiver | Bill Passed - House (40 - 20) |
| 1/20 | SB 2 | Tax Benefits for Health Savings Accounts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 1/20 | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Passed - House (70 - 22) |
| 1/19 | S 1892 | Limiting State Spending | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19) |
| 1/19 | S 1919 | Amends Rules for Legislature | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19) |
| 1/18 | SB 1 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 1/13 | HB 1 | Funding for Legislative Session | Bill Passed - House (67 - 32) |
| 1/11 | HR 39 | Attorney General Challenge of the Federal Health Care Law | Resolution Passed - House (115 - 46) |
| 1/10 | SB 3644 | Labor Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 49) |
| 1/04 | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 1/04 | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 12/02 | H Res 1737 | Censure for Representative Charles Rangel | Resolution Passed - House (333 - 79) |
| 11/30 | S Amdt 4697 | Prohibiting Earmarks | Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56) |
| 11/18 | HR 1722 | Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (254 - 152) |
| 11/17 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 11/17 | HR 3808 | Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 2 | Veto Override Failed - House (185 - 235) |
| 11/15 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| 9/30 | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Veto Override Failed - House (42 - 32) |
| 9/29 | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| 9/23 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 9/23 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 45) |
| 9/22 | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 48) |
| 9/22 | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |