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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 2, 2006 RI S 2112 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Feb. 2, 2006 IN HB 1006 Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA SB 253 Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA Sub HB 262 College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
Feb. 1, 2006 National H Res 653 Budget Reconciliation Adoption Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214)
Feb. 1, 2006 CO HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
Feb. 1, 2006 NH HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - House (211 - 149)
Jan. 31, 2006 National PN 1059 Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
Jan. 31, 2006 SD SB 175 Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26)
Jan. 31, 2006 IA HF 2045 Senior Citizen Tax Revision Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
Jan. 27, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
Jan. 27, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
Jan. 27, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
Jan. 27, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
Jan. 27, 2006 UT 1SHB 85 Parental Consent for Minor’s Abortion Bill Bill Passed - House (65 - 8)
Jan. 26, 2006 RI H 6700 Sub A Driver Refusal of Chemical Tests Bill Passed - House (64 - 6)
Jan. 26, 2006 IN HB 1142 Skills 2016 Training Fund Bill Passed - House (51 - 45)
Jan. 25, 2006 VA SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Jan. 25, 2006 GA SB 382 Child Support Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17)
Jan. 25, 2006 VA SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Jan. 24, 2006 AZ HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Jan. 24, 2006 AZ HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - House (33 - 23)
Jan. 23, 2006 SD SB 1 Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Jan. 23, 2006 WA 2nd Sub HB 2292 Addressing Health Care Liability Reform Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
Jan. 20, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Jan. 20, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Jan. 19, 2006 WI AB 766 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 36)
Jan. 19, 2006 IN SB 111 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Jan. 17, 2006 MD HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48)
Jan. 11, 2006 MA H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Failed - House (57 - 96)
Jan. 9, 2006 NJ S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
Jan. 9, 2006 NJ S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
Jan. 5, 2006 NJ S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
Dec. 21, 2005 National S Con Res 74 Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45)
Dec. 19, 2005 National HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 41)
Dec. 19, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106)
Dec. 19, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106)
Dec. 19, 2005 National S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206)
Dec. 16, 2005 National HR 4437 Border Security Bill Bill Passed - House (239 - 182)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Dec. 14, 2005 National HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
Dec. 8, 2005 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (234 - 197)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/02 S 2112 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
2/02 HB 1006 Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
2/02 SB 253 Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/02 Sub HB 262 College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
2/02 HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
2/01 H Res 653 Budget Reconciliation Adoption Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214)
2/01 HB 1056 Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
2/01 HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - House (211 - 149)
1/31 PN 1059 Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
1/31 SB 175 Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26)
1/31 HF 2045 Senior Citizen Tax Revision Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
1/27 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
1/27 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
1/27 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
1/27 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
1/27 1SHB 85 Parental Consent for Minor’s Abortion Bill Bill Passed - House (65 - 8)
1/26 H 6700 Sub A Driver Refusal of Chemical Tests Bill Passed - House (64 - 6)
1/26 HB 1142 Skills 2016 Training Fund Bill Passed - House (51 - 45)
1/25 SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
1/25 SB 382 Child Support Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17)
1/25 SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
1/24 HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
1/24 HB 2002 English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests Bill Passed - House (33 - 23)
1/23 SB 1 Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
1/23 2nd Sub HB 2292 Addressing Health Care Liability Reform Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
1/20 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
1/20 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
1/19 AB 766 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 36)
1/19 SB 111 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
1/17 HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/12 SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/12 SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50)
1/12 HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48)
1/11 H 1230 In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Failed - House (57 - 96)
1/09 S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
1/09 S 2083 Domestic Partner Surviving Rights Bill Passed - House (67 - 8)
1/05 S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
12/21 S Con Res 74 Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45)
12/19 HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 41)
12/19 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106)
12/19 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106)
12/19 S 1932 Budget Reconciliation Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206)
12/16 HR 4437 Border Security Bill Bill Passed - House (239 - 182)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
12/14 HR 3010 Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213)
12/08 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (234 - 197)

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