Ever feel like your elected officials are making decisions behind closed doors? The truth is, most of their actions—especially votes on legislation—are part of the public record. The challenge is knowing where to look and how to stay updated. Whether you’re concerned about tax hikes, education reform, healthcare laws, or your rights as a citizen, it’s crucial to know what your legislator is voting on right now—and how you can hold them accountable.
This guide will show you exactly how to find that information in minutes, not hours.
Step 1: Know Who Represents You
Before you can track what a legislator is doing, you need to know who they are. You have:
- Federal representatives: One U.S. House member and two U.S. Senators
- State representatives: Typically one or two legislators in your state house or assembly and one in your state senate
To find them:
- Visit https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative
- Or simply Google “Who represents me in [Your State]?”
Once you know their names, you can begin monitoring their activity.
Step 2: Use Official Legislative Websites
Each state—and Congress—has an official website where you can view your legislators’ voting records and bills they’ve sponsored. These websites typically include:
- Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored
- Voting history
- Committee memberships
- Upcoming bills and floor calendars
Examples:
- For federal votes: Congress.gov
- For California: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- For Texas: capitol.texas.gov
Find your legislator’s profile page and look for links like:
- “Voting Record”
- “Sponsored Bills”
- “Floor Votes”
Step 3: Use Tools Like LegislationTracker.net
If digging through government websites sounds tedious (and it often is), LegislationTracker.net was built for exactly this purpose. Our platform lets you:
- Track individual legislators
- Receive real-time alerts when they vote on a bill
- See how their votes align with your interests
- Read plain-English summaries of what they voted on—no legal jargon, no spin
Following your legislators through our tool ensures you won’t miss key votes—even when they happen without much media coverage.
Step 4: Subscribe to Their Newsletters and Social Media
Most elected officials publish regular newsletters or post legislative updates on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. This is where they often promote the bills they’re proud of—or quietly avoid ones that might be controversial.
Follow their official accounts or sign up for their email lists on their government websites. Just be aware that these sources may present a biased view of their activity. Always cross-check with official voting records or neutral tools like LegislationTracker.net.
Step 5: Review Recent Votes
To see what your legislator is voting on right now (or in the last week), check:
- Legislative calendars on state or federal websites
- Committee schedules to see which bills are up for discussion
- Recent vote logs—many are posted daily or weekly
At the federal level, you can view “Roll Call Votes” on Congress.gov or the U.S. House/Senate websites. These are official, detailed vote records by date.
At the state level, many legislatures have similar “floor action” or “session vote” sections.
Step 6: Hold Them Accountable
Once you know how your legislator voted, it’s your right to respond:
- Send an email or make a call thanking them or expressing concern
- Share your thoughts on social media and tag their official account
- Write a letter to the editor or post in community groups to raise awareness
Remember: Legislators work for you. When they know constituents are watching, they’re more likely to explain their decisions—and think carefully about future ones.
Bonus Tip: Track Votes on Key Issues
If you care about a specific issue (like public safety, education, or civil liberties), don’t just watch your own reps. Use tools like LegislationTracker.net to see how all legislators voted, both in your state and across the country. This helps identify trends, coordinate grassroots action, or support like-minded candidates.
Final Thoughts
Staying informed about your legislator’s votes isn’t just smart—it’s essential for a functioning democracy. Too often, bills are passed quietly, buried in legalese, or rushed through while the public is distracted. But with the right tools, you can know exactly what’s happening, when it’s happening, and how it affects you.
Your voice matters most before a vote happens—and your vote matters most when you know the record behind the name.Start tracking today at LegislationTracker.net—and make informed citizenship part of your daily life.
