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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 23, 2011 | GA | HB 1EX | House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| Aug. 21, 2011 | WV | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| Aug. 21, 2011 | WV | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| Aug. 18, 2011 | GA | SB 1EX | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| Aug. 18, 2011 | GA | SB 1EX | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| Aug. 5, 2011 | WV | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
| Aug. 5, 2011 | WV | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
| Aug. 3, 2011 | WV | SB 1006 | Redistricing State Senate | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
| Aug. 3, 2011 | WV | SB 1006 | Redistricing State Senate | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
| Aug. 2, 2011 | National | S 365 | Budget Control Act of 2011 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 26) |
| July 31, 2011 | National | S 627 | Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| July 29, 2011 | National | S 627 | Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) | Bill Tabled - Senate (59 - 41) |
| July 27, 2011 | NC | SB 453 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| July 27, 2011 | NC | SB 453 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| July 27, 2011 | NC | HB 937 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| July 27, 2011 | NC | HB 937 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| July 25, 2011 | NC | SB 455 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| July 25, 2011 | NC | SB 455 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| July 22, 2011 | National | HR 2560 | Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 | Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 46) |
| July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| July 14, 2011 | CA | AB 459 | National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 29, 2011 | MI | SB 498 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| June 29, 2011 | MI | SB 498 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| June 29, 2011 | MI | HB 4780 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 29, 2011 | MI | HB 4780 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 27, 2011 | TX | SB 29 | Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| June 23, 2011 | National | S Amdt 499 | Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| June 23, 2011 | National | S Amdt 499 | Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| June 22, 2011 | TX | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 22, 2011 | TX | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 20, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 20, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 20, 2011 | NJ | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 15, 2011 | OH | SJR 1 | Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 15, 2011 | OH | SJR 1 | Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 15, 2011 | TX | SB 9 | Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 10, 2011 | ME | LD 1376 | Repeal Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| June 10, 2011 | OR | SB 989 | State Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| June 10, 2011 | OR | SB 989 | State Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 8, 2011 | WI | SB 116 | Relating to Overseas Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 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) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 | HB 1EX | House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| 8/21 | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| 8/21 | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| 8/18 | SB 1EX | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 8/18 | SB 1EX | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 8/05 | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
| 8/05 | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
| 8/03 | SB 1006 | Redistricing State Senate | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
| 8/03 | SB 1006 | Redistricing State Senate | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
| 8/02 | S 365 | Budget Control Act of 2011 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 26) |
| 7/31 | S 627 | Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 7/29 | S 627 | Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) | Bill Tabled - Senate (59 - 41) |
| 7/27 | SB 453 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| 7/27 | SB 453 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| 7/27 | HB 937 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| 7/27 | HB 937 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| 7/25 | SB 455 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 7/25 | SB 455 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 7/22 | HR 2560 | Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 | Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 46) |
| 7/19 | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 7/19 | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 7/19 | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 7/19 | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 7/14 | AB 459 | National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 6/29 | SB 498 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 6/29 | SB 498 | Legislative Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 6/29 | HB 4780 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 6/29 | HB 4780 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 6/27 | SB 29 | Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 6/23 | S Amdt 499 | Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 6/23 | S Amdt 499 | Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 6/22 | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/22 | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/20 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/20 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/20 | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/15 | SJR 1 | Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 6/15 | SJR 1 | Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 6/15 | SB 9 | Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/10 | LD 1376 | Repeal Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| 6/10 | SB 989 | State Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 6/10 | SB 989 | State Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 6/09 | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 6/09 | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 6/08 | SB 116 | Relating to Overseas Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 6/06 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 6/06 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 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) |