Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 30, 2016 LA SB 227 Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
May 25, 2016 OH SB 296 Requires Bond for Extended Polling Hours Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 23, 2016 CA SB 1190 Prohibits Coastal Commission from Engaging in Ex Parte Communications Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 19, 2016 IL SB 250 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16)
May 10, 2016 MI SB 853 Prohibits Cities from Restricting Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 4, 2016 AZ SB 1268 Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
May 3, 2016 MO HB 1631 Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
April 19, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 13, 2016 NE LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
April 13, 2016 NE LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
April 11, 2016 ME LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 6, 2016 MO SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
April 4, 2016 NE LB 10 Establishes Winner-Take-All Election System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 4, 2016 LA SB 25 Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
March 29, 2016 RI H 7024 Authorizes Online Voting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
March 29, 2016 CO SB 157 Requires Suspension of Clean Power Plan Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 29, 2016 LA SB 227 Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
March 29, 2016 LA SB 164 Amends Absentee Voting Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
March 23, 2016 GA SB 323 Increases Deadline for Disclosure of Records of Intercollegiate Sports Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 22)
March 22, 2016 KS SB 439 Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/30 SB 227 Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
5/25 SB 296 Requires Bond for Extended Polling Hours Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/23 SB 1190 Prohibits Coastal Commission from Engaging in Ex Parte Communications Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/19 SB 250 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16)
5/10 SB 853 Prohibits Cities from Restricting Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/04 SB 1268 Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
5/03 HB 1631 Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/21 SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
4/21 SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
4/21 SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
4/21 SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
4/19 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/13 LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
4/13 LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
4/11 LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/06 SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/04 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
4/04 LB 10 Establishes Winner-Take-All Election System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/04 SB 25 Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
3/29 H 7024 Authorizes Online Voting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
3/29 SB 157 Requires Suspension of Clean Power Plan Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/29 SB 227 Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
3/29 SB 164 Amends Absentee Voting Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
3/23 SB 323 Increases Deadline for Disclosure of Records of Intercollegiate Sports Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 22)
3/22 SB 439 Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)

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