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. 14, 2011 | OH | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | OH | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | National | S J Res 10 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | National | S J Res 24 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79) |
| Dec. 6, 2011 | National | PN 5 | Nomination of Caitlin Joan Halligan to the District of Columbia Circuit Court | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | MI | HB 4326 | Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S J Res 27 | Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | MI | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Nov. 9, 2011 | ND | HB 1473 | New Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| Nov. 9, 2011 | ND | HB 1473 | New Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | MI | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Oct. 24, 2011 | SD | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| Oct. 24, 2011 | SD | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | OH | HB 318 | Establishing New Dates for Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | PA | SB 1151 | Fiscal Emergency Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| Oct. 17, 2011 | UT | SB 3002 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |
| Oct. 17, 2011 | UT | SB 3002 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |
| Oct. 17, 2011 | MO | SS for HCS for HB 3 | Presidential Elections | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 16) |
| Oct. 4, 2011 | UT | HB 3001 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| Oct. 4, 2011 | UT | HB 3001 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| Sept. 23, 2011 | NM | HB 39 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Sept. 23, 2011 | NM | HB 39 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | OH | HB 319 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | OH | HB 319 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | NM | SB 33 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | NM | SB 33 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
| Sept. 19, 2011 | NM | SB 22 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| Sept. 19, 2011 | NM | SB 22 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| Sept. 13, 2011 | NC | SB 514 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| Sept. 10, 2011 | CA | SB 202 | Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 292 | Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| Sept. 7, 2011 | NH | SB 129 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 17) |
| Sept. 7, 2011 | NH | SB 154 | Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 31, 2011 | GA | HB 20EX | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2011 | GA | HB 20EX | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
| Aug. 29, 2011 | CA | AB 46 | Small City Disincorporation | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
| Aug. 23, 2011 | GA | HB 1EX | House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| 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) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/14 | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 12/14 | HB 369 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 12/14 | S J Res 10 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 12/14 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 12/14 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 12/14 | S J Res 24 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79) |
| 12/06 | PN 5 | Nomination of Caitlin Joan Halligan to the District of Columbia Circuit Court | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 11/10 | HB 4326 | Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 11/10 | S J Res 27 | Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56) |
| 11/10 | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 11/09 | HB 1473 | New Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 11/09 | HB 1473 | New Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 11/07 | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 11/07 | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 11/07 | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 11/07 | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 11/07 | SB 283 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 11/07 | SB 689 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 11/03 | HB 4005 | School Board Election Dates | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 10/24 | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 10/24 | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 10/20 | HB 318 | Establishing New Dates for Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 10/20 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 10/20 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 10/18 | SB 1151 | Fiscal Emergency Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 10/17 | SB 3002 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |
| 10/17 | SB 3002 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |
| 10/17 | SS for HCS for HB 3 | Presidential Elections | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 16) |
| 10/04 | HB 3001 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| 10/04 | HB 3001 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| 9/23 | HB 39 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 9/23 | HB 39 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 9/21 | HB 319 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 9/21 | HB 319 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 9/21 | SB 33 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
| 9/21 | SB 33 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
| 9/19 | SB 22 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| 9/19 | SB 22 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| 9/13 | SB 514 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 9/10 | SB 202 | Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 9/09 | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 9/09 | SB 292 | Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| 9/09 | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| 9/07 | SB 129 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 17) |
| 9/07 | SB 154 | Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| 9/06 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 8/31 | HB 20EX | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
| 8/31 | HB 20EX | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
| 8/29 | AB 46 | Small City Disincorporation | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
| 8/23 | HB 1EX | House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| 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) |