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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 20, 2011 National HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
Dec. 20, 2011 PA SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (136 - 61)
Dec. 14, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
Dec. 14, 2011 OH HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (77 - 17)
Dec. 13, 2011 National HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
Dec. 8, 2011 MI HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
Dec. 8, 2011 MI HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
Dec. 2, 2011 National HR 3010 Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies Bill Passed - House (253 - 167)
Nov. 30, 2011 NH HB 474 Labor Law Amendments Veto Override Failed - House (240 - 139)
Nov. 30, 2011 National HR 3094 Labor Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (235 - 188)
Nov. 29, 2011 National HR 3012 Repeals Certain Green Cards Limitations Bill Passed - House (389 - 15)
Nov. 17, 2011 RI H 6319 Amending the Pension System Bill Passed - House (57 - 15)
Nov. 15, 2011 PA HB 439 Hiring Undocumented Workers Bill Passed - House (122 - 74)
Nov. 9, 2011 ND SB 2370 Authorizes Changing the Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (63 - 31)
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 SB 689 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (62 - 46)
Nov. 7, 2011 NC SB 283 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (61 - 46)
Nov. 3, 2011 MI HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
Nov. 1, 2011 WI SB 45 Administration of Medications to Students Bill Passed - House (63 - 32)
Oct. 27, 2011 National HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
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. 18, 2011 MD SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (91 - 46)
Oct. 17, 2011 UT SB 3002 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
Oct. 12, 2011 NH SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
Oct. 12, 2011 NH SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
Oct. 4, 2011 UT HB 3001 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 1)
Oct. 4, 2011 UT SB 3001 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (60 - 9)
Sept. 22, 2011 NM HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
Sept. 21, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 35)
Sept. 15, 2011 OH HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 36)
Sept. 14, 2011 National H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
Sept. 12, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA SB 922 Project Labor Agreements Bill Passed - House (52 - 27)
Sept. 7, 2011 CA SB 292 Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review Bill Passed - House (63 - 13)
Sept. 7, 2011 CA SB 222 Relating to Individual Health Care Coverage for Maternity Services Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
Sept. 6, 2011 CA SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
Sept. 6, 2011 CA SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
Sept. 2, 2011 CA AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 25)
Sept. 2, 2011 CA AB 6 Repeals Fingerprinting Requirement for CalFresh Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 26)
Aug. 25, 2011 GA HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (110 - 60)
Aug. 23, 2011 GA SB 1EX State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (104 - 56)
Aug. 22, 2011 CA AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 26)
Aug. 20, 2011 WV HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
Aug. 18, 2011 GA HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (108 - 64)
Aug. 5, 2011 WV SB 1008 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (90 - 5)
Aug. 5, 2011 WV SB 1006 Redistricing State Senate Bill Passed - House (82 - 13)
July 27, 2011 NC HB 937 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 53)
July 27, 2011 NC SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (68 - 51)
July 27, 2011 NC SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (67 - 52)
July 20, 2011 WI SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
July 20, 2011 WI SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
July 5, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
June 30, 2011 MI HB 4628 Amends Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 50)
June 30, 2011 PA HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66)
June 30, 2011 MI SB 7 Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
June 28, 2011 MI SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (65 - 42)
June 22, 2011 NH HB 329 Revising Abortion Procedures for Unemancipated Minors Veto Override Passed - House (266 - 102)
June 22, 2011 MI HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (63 - 47)
June 21, 2011 OR SB 552 Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
June 16, 2011 TX HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
June 15, 2011 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (93 - 47)
June 15, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
June 10, 2011 OR SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - House (47 - 10)
June 9, 2011 TX SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
June 7, 2011 ME LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 81)
June 7, 2011 LA HB 138 Parole Eligibility for Elderly Inmates Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
June 3, 2011 National H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
June 3, 2011 National H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
June 3, 2011 National H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
June 2, 2011 AL SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 45)
June 2, 2011 AL HB 56 Immigration Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 29)
June 2, 2011 AL HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48)
June 2, 2011 National H Amdt 398 Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205)
June 1, 2011 CA AB 131 In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
May 31, 2011 IL HB 1698 Amends Workers' Compensation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43)
May 31, 2011 ME LD 804 Proposal to Create a Unicameral State Legislature "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (78 - 66)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
May 25, 2011 SC S 20 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (65 - 39)
May 23, 2011 NV SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - House (29 - 13)
May 21, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
May 20, 2011 TN SB 113 Teachers' Unions Negotiations Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 40)
May 19, 2011 CT HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - House (77 - 62)
May 19, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
May 19, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
May 19, 2011 CA AB 1236 Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification Bill Passed - House (55 - 22)
May 18, 2011 NV AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
May 17, 2011 TX SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
May 17, 2011 TX SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
May 17, 2011 LA HB 7 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (67 - 26)
May 16, 2011 CA SB 104 Labor Representatives Bill Passed - House (51 - 26)
May 13, 2011 MN HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - House (71 - 61)
May 12, 2011 CT HB 6390 Access to Postsecondary Education Bill Passed - House (77 - 63)
May 10, 2011 MO HB 73 Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 34)
May 10, 2011 NV SB 497 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (25 - 17)
May 10, 2011 TX HB 12 Enforcement Of State And Federal Laws Governing Immigration Bill Passed - House (100 - 47)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/20 HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
12/20 SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (136 - 61)
12/14 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
12/14 HB 369 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (77 - 17)
12/13 HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
12/08 HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
12/08 HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
12/02 HR 3010 Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies Bill Passed - House (253 - 167)
11/30 HB 474 Labor Law Amendments Veto Override Failed - House (240 - 139)
11/30 HR 3094 Labor Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (235 - 188)
11/29 HR 3012 Repeals Certain Green Cards Limitations Bill Passed - House (389 - 15)
11/17 H 6319 Amending the Pension System Bill Passed - House (57 - 15)
11/15 HB 439 Hiring Undocumented Workers Bill Passed - House (122 - 74)
11/09 SB 2370 Authorizes Changing the Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (63 - 31)
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 SB 689 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (62 - 46)
11/07 SB 283 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (61 - 46)
11/03 HB 4701 Amends the State Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
11/01 SB 45 Administration of Medications to Students Bill Passed - House (63 - 32)
10/27 HR 2576 Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income Bill Passed - House (262 - 157)
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)
10/18 SB 1 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (91 - 46)
10/17 SB 3002 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
10/12 SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
10/12 SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
10/04 HB 3001 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 1)
10/04 SB 3001 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (60 - 9)
9/22 HB 39 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
9/21 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 35)
9/15 HB 319 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 36)
9/14 H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
9/12 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
9/09 AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
9/09 AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
9/09 SB 922 Project Labor Agreements Bill Passed - House (52 - 27)
9/07 SB 292 Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review Bill Passed - House (63 - 13)
9/07 SB 222 Relating to Individual Health Care Coverage for Maternity Services Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
9/06 SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
9/06 SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
9/02 AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 25)
9/02 AB 6 Repeals Fingerprinting Requirement for CalFresh Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 26)
8/25 HB 20EX Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (110 - 60)
8/23 SB 1EX State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (104 - 56)
8/22 AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 26)
8/20 HB 201 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
8/18 HB 1EX House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (108 - 64)
8/05 SB 1008 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (90 - 5)
8/05 SB 1006 Redistricing State Senate Bill Passed - House (82 - 13)
7/27 HB 937 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 53)
7/27 SB 453 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (68 - 51)
7/27 SB 455 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (67 - 52)
7/20 SB 148 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
7/20 SB 149 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
7/05 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
6/30 HB 4628 Amends Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Teachers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 50)
6/30 HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66)
6/30 SB 7 Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
6/28 SB 498 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (65 - 42)
6/22 HB 329 Revising Abortion Procedures for Unemancipated Minors Veto Override Passed - House (266 - 102)
6/22 HB 4780 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (63 - 47)
6/21 SB 552 Establishes the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
6/16 HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
6/15 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (93 - 47)
6/15 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
6/10 SB 989 State Redistricting Bill Passed - House (47 - 10)
6/09 SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
6/07 LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 81)
6/07 HB 138 Parole Eligibility for Elderly Inmates Bill Passed - House (65 - 25)
6/03 H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
6/03 H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
6/03 H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
6/02 SB 484 2011 Congressional Redistricting Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 45)
6/02 HB 56 Immigration Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 29)
6/02 HB 414 Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48)
6/02 H Amdt 398 Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205)
6/01 AB 131 In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (50 - 27)
5/31 HB 1698 Amends Workers' Compensation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43)
5/31 LD 804 Proposal to Create a Unicameral State Legislature "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (78 - 66)
5/30 SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
5/30 SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
5/25 S 20 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (65 - 39)
5/23 SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - House (29 - 13)
5/21 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
5/20 SB 113 Teachers' Unions Negotiations Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 40)
5/19 HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - House (77 - 62)
5/19 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
5/19 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
5/19 AB 1236 Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification Bill Passed - House (55 - 22)
5/18 AB 566 Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
5/17 SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
5/17 SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
5/17 HB 7 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (67 - 26)
5/16 SB 104 Labor Representatives Bill Passed - House (51 - 26)
5/13 HF 1426 Congressional Redistricting Plan Bill Passed - House (71 - 61)
5/12 HB 6390 Access to Postsecondary Education Bill Passed - House (77 - 63)
5/10 HB 73 Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 34)
5/10 SB 497 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - House (25 - 17)
5/10 HB 12 Enforcement Of State And Federal Laws Governing Immigration Bill Passed - House (100 - 47)

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