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. 14, 2012 | SD | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | SD | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | KS | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | NM | HB 42 | Increasing Contribution to Legislative Pension Plan | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | KS | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | MO | HB 1104 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (101 - 54) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | National | HR 3521 | Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | National | HR 3521 | Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | ID | HB 391 | Repeals the Presidential Primary Election | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| Feb. 4, 2012 | NM | HB 111 | Increases Penalties for Public Officials who Commit Crimes | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | FL | SB 1174 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | FL | SB 1174 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | FL | SB 1174 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | GA | HB 829 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (101 - 53) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | UT | HB 253 | Removal of Voters from Voter Registration List | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | GA | HB 829 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (101 - 53) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | RI | S 2178 | State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | RI | S 2178 | State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | National | HR 3835 | Extends Pay Freeze for Congress and Non-Military Federal Workers | Bill Passed - House (309 - 117) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | National | HR 3835 | Extends Pay Freeze for Congress and Non-Military Federal Workers | Bill Passed - House (309 - 117) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | VA | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
| Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | HB 1269 | Authorizes Indiana to Join the Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
| Jan. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1148 | Requires Political Advertisements to Disclose Funding Sources | Bill Failed - House (52 - 26) |
| Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | HB 1007 | Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants | Bill Passed - House (73 - 23) |
| Jan. 27, 2012 | UT | SB 125 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (69 - 0) |
| Jan. 27, 2012 | UT | SB 125 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (69 - 0) |
| 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. 19, 2012 | CO | HR 1003 | Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Resolution Passed - House (33 - 31) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | TN | SB 1514 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (75 - 19) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | TN | SB 1514 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (75 - 19) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | National | H J Res 98 | Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | National | H J Res 98 | Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | KY | HB 30 | Authorizes Advertising on School Buses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| Jan. 18, 2012 | NH | HB 228 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Abortion | Bill Passed - House (207 - 147) |
| 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) |
| Jan. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| Jan. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| Jan. 12, 2012 | TN | HB 1558 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| Jan. 12, 2012 | TN | HB 1558 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| Jan. 12, 2012 | TN | HB 1555 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| Jan. 12, 2012 | TN | HB 1555 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| Jan. 5, 2012 | NH | HB 628 | Recording and Tracking Complaints of Abuse by Transportation Security Agents | Bill Passed - House (188 - 136) |
| Dec. 20, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| Dec. 20, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | OH | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (77 - 17) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | OH | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (77 - 17) |
| Dec. 2, 2011 | National | HR 3010 | Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| Dec. 1, 2011 | National | HR 3463 | Repeals Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (235 - 190) |
| Nov. 30, 2011 | NH | CACR 14 | Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education | Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264) |
| Nov. 18, 2011 | National | H J Res 2 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165) |
| Nov. 16, 2011 | National | HR 822 | Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms | Bill Passed - House (272 - 154) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | MI | HB 4326 | Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 48) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | ND | HB 1474 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Failed - House (30 - 64) |
| Nov. 9, 2011 | MI | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| Nov. 8, 2011 | ND | HB 1473 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (60 - 32) |
| Nov. 8, 2011 | ND | HB 1473 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (60 - 32) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 46) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 46) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 46) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 46) |
| Nov. 1, 2011 | National | H Con Res 13 | Encourages Display of "In God We Trust" in Public Buildings and Schools | Joint Resolution Passed - House (396 - 9) |
| Oct. 26, 2011 | National | HR 1904 | Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 186) |
| Oct. 24, 2011 | SD | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| Oct. 24, 2011 | SD | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| Oct. 21, 2011 | OH | HB 318 | Establishing New Dates for Primaries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/14 | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/14 | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 2/09 | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| 2/09 | HB 42 | Increasing Contribution to Legislative Pension Plan | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| 2/09 | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| 2/09 | HB 1104 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (101 - 54) |
| 2/08 | HR 3521 | Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| 2/08 | HR 3521 | Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| 2/08 | HB 391 | Repeals the Presidential Primary Election | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| 2/04 | HB 111 | Increases Penalties for Public Officials who Commit Crimes | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 2/03 | SB 1174 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| 2/03 | SB 1174 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| 2/03 | SB 1174 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| 2/03 | HB 829 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (101 - 53) |
| 2/03 | HB 253 | Removal of Voters from Voter Registration List | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| 2/03 | HB 829 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (101 - 53) |
| 2/01 | S 2178 | State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| 2/01 | S 2178 | State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| 2/01 | HR 3835 | Extends Pay Freeze for Congress and Non-Military Federal Workers | Bill Passed - House (309 - 117) |
| 2/01 | HR 3835 | Extends Pay Freeze for Congress and Non-Military Federal Workers | Bill Passed - House (309 - 117) |
| 2/01 | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
| 1/31 | HB 1269 | Authorizes Indiana to Join the Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
| 1/31 | AB 1148 | Requires Political Advertisements to Disclose Funding Sources | Bill Failed - House (52 - 26) |
| 1/31 | HB 1007 | Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants | Bill Passed - House (73 - 23) |
| 1/27 | SB 125 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (69 - 0) |
| 1/27 | SB 125 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (69 - 0) |
| 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) |
| 1/19 | HR 1003 | Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Resolution Passed - House (33 - 31) |
| 1/18 | SB 1514 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (75 - 19) |
| 1/18 | SB 1514 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (75 - 19) |
| 1/18 | H J Res 98 | Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176) |
| 1/18 | H J Res 98 | Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit | Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176) |
| 1/18 | HB 30 | Authorizes Advertising on School Buses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| 1/18 | HB 228 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Abortion | Bill Passed - House (207 - 147) |
| 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) |
| 1/13 | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| 1/13 | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| 1/12 | HB 1558 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| 1/12 | HB 1558 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| 1/12 | HB 1555 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| 1/12 | HB 1555 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| 1/05 | HB 628 | Recording and Tracking Complaints of Abuse by Transportation Security Agents | Bill Passed - House (188 - 136) |
| 12/20 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| 12/20 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| 12/14 | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (77 - 17) |
| 12/14 | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (77 - 17) |
| 12/02 | HR 3010 | Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| 12/01 | HR 3463 | Repeals Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (235 - 190) |
| 11/30 | CACR 14 | Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Legislature to Set Standards for Public Education | Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 264) |
| 11/18 | H J Res 2 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (261 - 165) |
| 11/16 | HR 822 | Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms | Bill Passed - House (272 - 154) |
| 11/10 | HB 4326 | Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 48) |
| 11/10 | HB 1474 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Failed - House (30 - 64) |
| 11/09 | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| 11/08 | HB 1473 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (60 - 32) |
| 11/08 | HB 1473 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (60 - 32) |
| 11/07 | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| 11/07 | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| 11/07 | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 46) |
| 11/07 | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 46) |
| 11/07 | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 46) |
| 11/07 | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 46) |
| 11/01 | H Con Res 13 | Encourages Display of "In God We Trust" in Public Buildings and Schools | Joint Resolution Passed - House (396 - 9) |
| 10/26 | HR 1904 | Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 186) |
| 10/24 | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| 10/24 | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| 10/21 | HB 318 | Establishing New Dates for Primaries | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| 10/18 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| 10/18 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |