Votes

Roll call votes occur when a Representative or Senator votes "yea" or "nay," so that the names of members voting on each side are recorded.  A voice vote is a vote in which those in favor or against a measure say "yea" or "nay," respectively, without the names or tallies of members voting on each side being recorded.

Voting in the Senate

Senate Roll Call Votes

Voting Procedures in the Senate (pdf)

Voting in the House

Recent House Roll Call Votes

House Voting Procedures  (pdf)

Finding Votes

There are many ways to find out how a member of Congress voted on a particular issue.

How to . . . Find Out About Congressional Voting

Voting Statistics

Learn about vice presidential tie-breaking votes and Senators who have cast 10,000 votes or more during their Senate service.

Votes by Vice Presidents to Break Tie Votes in the Senate

Senators Casting 10,000 or More Votes

Historic Votes

These essays by the Office of the Senate Historian describe the outcome of several historic votes.

The Senate Votes on a Presidential Impeachment, May 16, 1868

The Great Senate Deadlock, 1881

A Dramatic Tie-Breaker, March 18, 1881

A Vote for Women, September 30, 1918

Civil Rights Filibuster Ended, June 10, 1964

Related Items

Interested in related materials? Take a look at this Virtual Reference Desk subject for more information.

Legislation