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. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 6553 | Authorizes Legislative Intervention in Individual Constitutionality Claims and Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 47) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 6553 | Authorizes Legislative Intervention in Individual Constitutionality Claims and Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 47) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 4991 | Appropriates $1.3 Billion to Fiscal Year 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 51) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 6595 | Increases Requirements for State Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1239 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | HB 4991 | Appropriates $1.3 Billion to Fiscal Year 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1239 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (60 - 48) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
Dec. 18, 2018 | MI | SB 1176 | Establishes Misdemeanor Crimes for Public Officials Requiring nonprofit groups Disclose Donors Information | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
Dec. 12, 2018 | MI | HB 6595 | Increases Requirements for State Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (60 - 49) |
Dec. 11, 2018 | National | PN 2117 | Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court | (51 - 50) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - House (56 - 27) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - House (56 - 27) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - House (56 - 27) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Nov. 29, 2018 | NC | SB 820 | Increases Incentives Cap for High-Wage Corporate Jobs | Bill Passed - House (78 - 23) |
Nov. 29, 2018 | National | PN 2117 | Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court | Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
Nov. 29, 2018 | MI | SB 1176 | Establishes Misdemeanor Crimes for Public Officials Requiring nonprofit groups Disclose Donors Information | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Nov. 8, 2018 | MI | SB 1022 | Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Oct. 29, 2018 | NJ | A 4674 | Authorizes US Congresspersons to Run for Congress and Presidency during Primary Election | Bill Passed - Senate |
Oct. 29, 2018 | NJ | A 4674 | Authorizes US Congresspersons to Run for Congress and Presidency during Primary Election | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
Oct. 6, 2018 | National | PN 2259 | Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States | (50 - 48) |
Oct. 5, 2018 | National | PN 2259 | Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49) |
Oct. 4, 2018 | MI | HB 6064 | Authorizes Taxpayer Subsidies for the Rural Development Fund | Bill Passed - House (81 - 25) |
Oct. 4, 2018 | MI | HB 6064 | Authorizes Taxpayer Subsidies for the Rural Development Fund | Bill Passed - House (81 - 25) |
Oct. 2, 2018 | MI | HB 4668 | Prohibits Marijuana Infused Beer | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 4) |
Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 3312 | Requires State Legislature to Maintain Sexual Harassment Policy | Bill Passed - House (79 - 0) |
Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 3312 | Requires State Legislature to Maintain Sexual Harassment Policy | Bill Passed - House (79 - 0) |
Sept. 26, 2018 | MI | HB 5548 | Establishes Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (107 - 0) |
Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 0) |
Aug. 27, 2018 | NJ | S 2293 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |
Aug. 6, 2018 | CA | SB 892 | Authorizes the Official Recognition of the Lunar New Year | Bill Passed - House (75 - 0) |
July 31, 2018 | MA | H 4857 | Increases State Clean Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 30, 2018 | MA | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 30, 2018 | MA | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 19, 2018 | National | S Res 584 | A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate against the making available of current and former diplomats, officials, and members of the Armed Forces of the United States for questioning by the government of Vladimir Putin. | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0) |
July 18, 2018 | National | PN 1645 | Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit | (50 - 49) |
July 18, 2018 | MA | H 4546 | Authorizes Creation of Community Benefit Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
July 17, 2018 | National | PN 1645 | Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit | Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
July 11, 2018 | National | PN 1402 | Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General | (51 - 48) |
July 10, 2018 | National | PN 1402 | Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48) |
July 9, 2018 | ME | LD 1912 | Prohibit Campaign Fundraising at Voting Place | Bill Passed - House (81 - 48) |
July 2, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 14) |
June 30, 2018 | NJ | A 4208 | Establishes a New Jersey Complete Count Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 21) |
June 29, 2018 | NC | HB 1092 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
June 29, 2018 | NC | HB 1092 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
June 28, 2018 | NC | HB 717 | Amends Judicial Divisions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 2) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (53 - 23) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | SB 325 | Amends One-Stop Voting Schedules | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 45) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 717 | Amends Judicial Divisions | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 45) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | SB 813 | Requires the Redistricting of Asheville City Council Districts | Bill Passed - House (64 - 52) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 913 | Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 913 | Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 913 | Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | SB 255 | Increases Occupational Licensing Board Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
June 26, 2018 | NC | SB 325 | Amends One-Stop Voting Schedules | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
June 26, 2018 | ME | LD 1869 | Establishes Total Cost of Education and State and Local Contributions to Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
June 26, 2018 | NC | HB 913 | Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement | Amendment Adopted - House (74 - 44) |
June 26, 2018 | NC | HB 1092 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (74 - 43) |
June 26, 2018 | NC | HB 1092 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (74 - 43) |
June 26, 2018 | NC | HB 913 | Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement | Amendment Adopted - House (74 - 44) |
June 26, 2018 | NC | HB 913 | Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement | Amendment Adopted - House (74 - 44) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4249 | Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 25) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4249 | Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 3463 | Requires Polling Places to Post Count of Voters | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
June 21, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | A 3463 | Requires Polling Places to Post Count of Voters | Bill Passed - House (49 - 23) |
June 20, 2018 | NC | SB 486 | Amends Various Election Laws | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 42) |
June 20, 2018 | ME | LD 1584 | Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
June 20, 2018 | RI | H 7200 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
June 19, 2018 | NC | SB 486 | Amends Various Election Laws | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
June 19, 2018 | RI | S 2612 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
June 15, 2018 | RI | H 7200 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (61 - 12) |
June 14, 2018 | NY | S 2412 | Establishes A Commission Of Prosecutorial Conduct | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 12) |
June 13, 2018 | NC | HB 496 | Amends Placement of Candidates on Official Election Ballots Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 30) |
June 13, 2018 | NC | HB 659 | Specifies Method of Vacancy Filling for US Senators | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 39) |
June 13, 2018 | NC | HB 1055 | Amends Pension Benefit Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 34) |
June 13, 2018 | PA | SB 22 | Establishes 11-Member Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
June 7, 2018 | MA | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 21 | Amends Certain Charter School Enrollment Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 0) |
June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
May 31, 2018 | IL | SB 3109 | Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SJRCA 4 | Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3109 | Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
May 29, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
May 29, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Bill Passed - House (99 - 10) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Bill Passed - House (108 - 1) |
May 17, 2018 | LA | HB 265 | Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 42) |
May 17, 2018 | LA | SB 31 | Prohibits Convicted Felons From Obtaining Public Office | Bill Passed - House (70 - 24) |