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 2, 2011 | AL | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 45) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 45) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
| June 2, 2011 | LA | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| June 1, 2011 | CA | AB 131 | In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| May 31, 2011 | ME | LD 804 | Proposal to Create a Unicameral State Legislature | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (78 - 66) |
| May 31, 2011 | LA | SB 108 | Limits Tax and Bond Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 30, 2011 | NV | AB 301 | Voting Privileges for Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 27, 2011 | IL | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| May 27, 2011 | IL | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| May 27, 2011 | CT | HB 6650 | Appropriations for Judicial Branch and Other Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 26, 2011 | NE | LB 704 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| May 26, 2011 | NE | LB 704 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| May 26, 2011 | NE | LB 703 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| May 26, 2011 | NE | LB 703 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| May 25, 2011 | NV | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 25, 2011 | NV | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 25, 2011 | TX | H Amdt 1 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Amendment Adopted - House (99 - 43) |
| May 24, 2011 | LA | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - House (70 - 30) |
| May 21, 2011 | TX | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| May 21, 2011 | MN | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62) |
| May 21, 2011 | TX | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| May 20, 2011 | TN | SB 16 | Voter Identification Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| May 19, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| May 18, 2011 | TN | SJR 221 | Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit State Income Tax | Amendment Adopted - Senate (26 - 4) |
| May 18, 2011 | TN | HB 600 | Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| May 18, 2011 | CT | HB 6342 | Attorney General Candidate Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (91 - 51) |
| May 18, 2011 | NV | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
| May 18, 2011 | NV | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
| May 18, 2011 | NC | HB 658 | Amending Early Voting Period | Bill Passed - House (60 - 58) |
| May 17, 2011 | MN | HF 1425 | Legislative Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 29) |
| May 17, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 17, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 16, 2011 | OK | HB 2145 | State House Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4) |
| May 16, 2011 | OK | HB 2145 | State House Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4) |
| May 16, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 46) |
| May 13, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| May 13, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4479 | Interstate Compact and Business Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4479 | Interstate Compact and Business Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| May 12, 2011 | TN | HB 600 | Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4484 | State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Judges and State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| May 12, 2011 | RI | S 400 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| May 11, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16) |
| May 11, 2011 | KS | SB 129 | Amends Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (15 - 23) |
| May 11, 2011 | WI | AB 7 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| May 11, 2011 | MN | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/02 | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 45) |
| 6/02 | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 45) |
| 6/02 | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
| 6/02 | SB 484 | 2011 Congressional Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
| 6/02 | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 6/01 | AB 131 | In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| 5/31 | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| 5/31 | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| 5/31 | LD 804 | Proposal to Create a Unicameral State Legislature | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (78 - 66) |
| 5/31 | SB 108 | Limits Tax and Bond Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/30 | AB 301 | Voting Privileges for Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 5/27 | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| 5/27 | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| 5/27 | HB 6650 | Appropriations for Judicial Branch and Other Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/26 | LB 704 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 5/26 | LB 704 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 5/26 | LB 703 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| 5/26 | LB 703 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| 5/25 | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/25 | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/25 | H Amdt 1 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Amendment Adopted - House (99 - 43) |
| 5/24 | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - House (70 - 30) |
| 5/21 | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 5/21 | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62) |
| 5/21 | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 5/20 | SB 16 | Voter Identification Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| 5/19 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| 5/18 | SJR 221 | Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit State Income Tax | Amendment Adopted - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 5/18 | HB 600 | Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| 5/18 | HB 6342 | Attorney General Candidate Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (91 - 51) |
| 5/18 | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
| 5/18 | AB 566 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
| 5/18 | HB 658 | Amending Early Voting Period | Bill Passed - House (60 - 58) |
| 5/17 | HF 1425 | Legislative Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 29) |
| 5/17 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/17 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/16 | HB 2145 | State House Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4) |
| 5/16 | HB 2145 | State House Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 4) |
| 5/16 | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 46) |
| 5/13 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| 5/13 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| 5/12 | HB 4479 | Interstate Compact and Business Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| 5/12 | HB 4479 | Interstate Compact and Business Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 5/12 | HB 600 | Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 5/12 | HB 4484 | State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Judges and State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 5/12 | S 400 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 5/11 | H 3003 | Voter ID | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16) |
| 5/11 | SB 129 | Amends Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (15 - 23) |
| 5/11 | AB 7 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| 5/11 | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27) |