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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |