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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 10, 2010 | SC | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | SC | S 191 | Authorizing Warrantless Searches and Seizures of Probationers and Parolees | Motion Agreed - House (81 - 26) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | SC | H 3272 | Property Tax Law Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | SC | H 4219 | Censuring Governor Mark Sanford | Resolution Passed - House (102 - 11) |
| June 16, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
| May 20, 2009 | SC | H 3560 | 2009-2010 Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| May 20, 2009 | SC | H 3560 | 2009-2010 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (98 - 19) |
| March 11, 2009 | SC | H 3560 | 2009-2010 Budget | Motion Agreed - House (71 - 43) |
| March 3, 2009 | SC | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | SC | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 2 | Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| Feb. 12, 2009 | SC | H 3301 | Payday Lending Regulations | Motion Agreed - House (93 - 16) |
| Oct. 21, 2008 | SC | S 429 | DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25) |
| Oct. 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 20 to H 5300 | Repealing Property Tax Exemption | Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17) |
| Oct. 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 11 to H 5300 | Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding | Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50) |
| May 29, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
| May 27, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 7A | To Reduce Income Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (68 - 52) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 4A | Cigarette Tax for Small Business Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (60 - 58) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 3A | Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51) |
| May 14, 2008 | SC | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| May 6, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-1 | Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 10, 2008 | SC | H 3427 | Ending Common Law Marriage | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (21 - 17) |
| April 9, 2008 | SC | H 4549 | Funding Road Repair and Maintenance | Bill Passed - House (91 - 9) |
| April 9, 2008 | SC | H 4673 | Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| April 2, 2008 | SC | AM 1 | Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
| April 2, 2008 | SC | H 4550 | Marriage Tax Cut | Bill Passed - House (100 - 14) |
| March 5, 2008 | SC | H 4620 | Expanding Governor's Appointment Power | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | SC | AM 4 to S 398 | Prohibiting Payday Lending Amendment | Bill Tabled - Senate (23 - 18) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| June 28, 2007 | SC | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and School Choice | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 52) |
| June 20, 2007 | SC | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and School Choice | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 49) |
| June 19, 2007 | SC | S 99 | Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission | Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 7) |
| June 19, 2007 | SC | S 99 | Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (87 - 18) |
| May 31, 2007 | SC | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and Optional Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| May 30, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 9, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| April 25, 2007 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (78 - 37) |
| April 24, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 45 | Competitive Grants Program | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 9) |
| April 10, 2007 | SC | S 332 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| April 5, 2007 | SC | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| March 29, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 5 | School Vouchers, Administer PACT to Transfer Students | Amendment Tabled - House (62 - 56) |
| March 29, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 8 | School Tuition Tax Credit | Amendment Tabled - House (70 - 49) |
| March 29, 2007 | SC | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and Optional Programs | Bill Passed - House (69 - 53) |
| March 27, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 23 | Remove the Transportation Commission | Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36) |
| March 21, 2007 | SC | H 3355 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound | Bill Passed - House (91 - 23) |
| March 7, 2007 | SC | H 3505 | Jasper County Port Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (80 - 35) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | SC | H 3063 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 7) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 287 | The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 288 | Appointment of the Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 284 | The Appointment of the Adjutant General | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 101 | Reorganization of the State Government | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 286 | Appointment of the Superintendent of Education | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 285 | The Appointment of the Comptroller General | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 4810 | 2006-2007 Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 4410 | Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill | Veto Override Failed - House (73 - 40) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 4810 | 2006-2007 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (99 - 13) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 4410 | Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill | Veto Override Failed - Senate (8 - 29) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 31) |
| May 31, 2006 | SC | H 4938 | State Guard Emergency Air Wing | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 31, 2006 | SC | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| May 31, 2006 | SC | S 1267 | Death Penalty for Repeat Sex Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 27) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | Amdt 3 to S 1084 | Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | S 229 | Cockfighting And Hog Dog Fighting | Bill Passed - House (78 - 15) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | S 1084 | Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| May 10, 2006 | SC | H 4932 | South Carolina Child Development Education Two-Year Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (85 - 18) |
| March 29, 2006 | SC | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
| March 28, 2006 | SC | Amdt 2B | Sex Offenders Penalties Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SC | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SC | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 25) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | SC | H 3881 | South Carolina Priority Investment Act | Bill Passed - House (62 - 41) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | SC | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (86 - 31) |
| Jan. 17, 2006 | SC | H 3702 | School Transportation | Bill Passed - House (58 - 47) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/10 | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| 2/24 | S 191 | Authorizing Warrantless Searches and Seizures of Probationers and Parolees | Motion Agreed - House (81 - 26) |
| 2/10 | H 3272 | Property Tax Law Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| 1/13 | H 4219 | Censuring Governor Mark Sanford | Resolution Passed - House (102 - 11) |
| 6/16 | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
| 5/20 | H 3560 | 2009-2010 Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| 5/20 | H 3560 | 2009-2010 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (98 - 19) |
| 3/11 | H 3560 | 2009-2010 Budget | Motion Agreed - House (71 - 43) |
| 3/03 | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
| 2/26 | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
| 2/24 | Amdt 2 | Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45) |
| 2/24 | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
| 2/18 | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| 2/12 | H 3301 | Payday Lending Regulations | Motion Agreed - House (93 - 16) |
| 10/21 | S 429 | DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25) |
| 10/21 | H Amdt 20 to H 5300 | Repealing Property Tax Exemption | Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17) |
| 10/21 | H Amdt 11 to H 5300 | Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding | Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50) |
| 5/29 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
| 5/27 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
| 5/21 | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| 5/21 | H Amdt 7A | To Reduce Income Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (68 - 52) |
| 5/21 | H Amdt 4A | Cigarette Tax for Small Business Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (60 - 58) |
| 5/21 | H Amdt 3A | Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care | Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51) |
| 5/14 | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| 5/06 | S Amdt P-1 | Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 4/10 | H 3427 | Ending Common Law Marriage | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 4/09 | H 4549 | Funding Road Repair and Maintenance | Bill Passed - House (91 - 9) |
| 4/09 | H 4673 | Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| 4/02 | AM 1 | Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
| 4/02 | H 4550 | Marriage Tax Cut | Bill Passed - House (100 - 14) |
| 3/05 | H 4620 | Expanding Governor's Appointment Power | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24) |
| 2/19 | AM 4 to S 398 | Prohibiting Payday Lending Amendment | Bill Tabled - Senate (23 - 18) |
| 1/31 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| 6/28 | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and School Choice | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 52) |
| 6/20 | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and School Choice | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 49) |
| 6/19 | S 99 | Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission | Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 7) |
| 6/19 | S 99 | Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (87 - 18) |
| 5/31 | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and Optional Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 5/30 | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/09 | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 4/25 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (78 - 37) |
| 4/24 | Amendment No. 45 | Competitive Grants Program | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 4/10 | S 332 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| 4/05 | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 3/29 | Amendment No. 5 | School Vouchers, Administer PACT to Transfer Students | Amendment Tabled - House (62 - 56) |
| 3/29 | Amendment No. 8 | School Tuition Tax Credit | Amendment Tabled - House (70 - 49) |
| 3/29 | H 3124 | Open Enrollment and Optional Programs | Bill Passed - House (69 - 53) |
| 3/27 | Amendment No. 23 | Remove the Transportation Commission | Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36) |
| 3/21 | H 3355 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound | Bill Passed - House (91 - 23) |
| 3/07 | H 3505 | Jasper County Port Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (80 - 35) |
| 1/25 | H 3063 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 7) |
| 1/24 | S 287 | The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 1/24 | S 288 | Appointment of the Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 1/24 | S 284 | The Appointment of the Adjutant General | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 1/24 | S 101 | Reorganization of the State Government | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| 1/24 | S 286 | Appointment of the Superintendent of Education | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 1/24 | S 285 | The Appointment of the Comptroller General | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 6/14 | H 4810 | 2006-2007 Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| 6/14 | H 4410 | Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill | Veto Override Failed - House (73 - 40) |
| 6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
| 6/14 | H 4810 | 2006-2007 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (99 - 13) |
| 6/14 | H 4410 | Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill | Veto Override Failed - Senate (8 - 29) |
| 6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 31) |
| 5/31 | H 4938 | State Guard Emergency Air Wing | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/31 | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 5/31 | S 1267 | Death Penalty for Repeat Sex Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 27) |
| 5/25 | Amdt 3 to S 1084 | Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31) |
| 5/25 | S 229 | Cockfighting And Hog Dog Fighting | Bill Passed - House (78 - 15) |
| 5/25 | S 1084 | Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| 5/10 | H 4932 | South Carolina Child Development Education Two-Year Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (85 - 18) |
| 3/29 | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
| 3/28 | Amdt 2B | Sex Offenders Penalties Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
| 2/22 | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| 2/22 | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 25) |
| 2/15 | H 3881 | South Carolina Priority Investment Act | Bill Passed - House (62 - 41) |
| 2/08 | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (86 - 31) |
| 1/17 | H 3702 | School Transportation | Bill Passed - House (58 - 47) |