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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 9, 2011 WY HB 256 Tenant Rights in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
Feb. 1, 2011 IA HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
Jan. 24, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Dec. 15, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
April 8, 2010 AZ HB 2650 Authorizing Extension of Divorce Waiting Period Bill Failed - House (27 - 28)
July 18, 2006 National H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
April 28, 2004 National HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
Sept. 13, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
July 20, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
Feb. 10, 2000 National HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
Sept. 26, 1998 National HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
July 12, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/09 HB 256 Tenant Rights in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
2/01 HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
1/24 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
12/15 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
4/08 HB 2650 Authorizing Extension of Divorce Waiting Period Bill Failed - House (27 - 28)
7/18 H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
4/28 HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
9/13 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
7/20 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
2/10 HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
9/26 HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
7/12 H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
7/12 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)

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