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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 19, 2016 IL SB 250 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16)
May 10, 2016 MI SB 853 Prohibits Cities from Restricting Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 4, 2016 AZ SB 1268 Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
May 4, 2016 MO HB 1631 Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 38)
May 3, 2016 MO SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36)
May 3, 2016 MO HB 1631 Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 27, 2016 LA HB 598 Amends Voter Registration Policies for Convicted Felons Bill Failed - House (37 - 60)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
April 21, 2016 IL SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
April 20, 2016 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 50)
April 19, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 18, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Bill Passed - House (69 - 25)
April 14, 2016 National HR 3340 Financial Stability Oversight Council Reform Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 179)
April 13, 2016 NE LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
April 13, 2016 NE LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
April 11, 2016 ME LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 7, 2016 AK HB 222 Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds Bill Passed - House (26 - 13)
April 7, 2016 AK HB 222 Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds Bill Passed - House (26 - 13)
April 7, 2016 ME LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - House (77 - 73)
April 6, 2016 MO SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 6, 2016 AZ SB 1248 Prohibits Pet Stores from Selling Commercially Bred Animals Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
April 4, 2016 NE LB 10 Establishes Winner-Take-All Election System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/19 SB 250 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16)
5/10 SB 853 Prohibits Cities from Restricting Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/04 SB 1268 Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
5/04 HB 1631 Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 38)
5/03 SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36)
5/03 HB 1631 Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/27 HB 598 Amends Voter Registration Policies for Convicted Felons Bill Failed - House (37 - 60)
4/21 SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
4/21 SJRCA 30 Amends Redistricting Process Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
4/21 SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
4/21 SJRCA 29 Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28)
4/20 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 50)
4/19 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/18 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Bill Passed - House (69 - 25)
4/14 HR 3340 Financial Stability Oversight Council Reform Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 179)
4/13 LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
4/13 LB 580 Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
4/11 LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/07 HB 222 Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds Bill Passed - House (26 - 13)
4/07 HB 222 Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds Bill Passed - House (26 - 13)
4/07 LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - House (77 - 73)
4/06 SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/06 SB 1248 Prohibits Pet Stores from Selling Commercially Bred Animals Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
4/04 LB 10 Establishes Winner-Take-All Election System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/04 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)

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