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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2013 | NC | SB 306 | Repeals the Racial Justice Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| June 4, 2013 | LA | SB 188 | Increases Judicial Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| June 4, 2013 | CT | HB 6580 | Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 30, 2013 | OH | SB 67 | Prohibits JobsOhio Liquor Leases from Being Publicly Audited | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| May 28, 2013 | OR | SB 154 | Requires Signature Gathering Firms to Meet Certain Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 26, 2013 | TX | HB 912 | Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 23, 2013 | NV | AB 440 | Extends Voter Registration Period | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 23, 2013 | IL | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 23, 2013 | IL | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 23, 2013 | NV | AB 441 | Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 22, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 24) |
| May 22, 2013 | LA | SB 153 | Requires Equal Pay for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 16, 2013 | AZ | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 15, 2013 | IL | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| May 14, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 14, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 13, 2013 | NJ | S 968 | Establishes Procedures for Privatization Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 8, 2013 | CT | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 8, 2013 | CT | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/12 | SB 306 | Repeals the Racial Justice Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| 6/04 | SB 188 | Increases Judicial Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 6/04 | HB 6580 | Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/30 | SB 67 | Prohibits JobsOhio Liquor Leases from Being Publicly Audited | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 5/28 | SB 154 | Requires Signature Gathering Firms to Meet Certain Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 5/26 | HB 912 | Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5) |
| 5/23 | AB 440 | Extends Voter Registration Period | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/23 | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 5/23 | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 5/23 | AB 441 | Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/22 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 5/22 | SB 153 | Requires Equal Pay for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/16 | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 5/15 | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| 5/14 | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 5/14 | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 5/13 | S 968 | Establishes Procedures for Privatization Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 5/08 | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 5/08 | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 5/08 | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 5/08 | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 5/08 | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |