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
April 25, 2017 NY S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
April 5, 2017 DE SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
April 4, 2016 LA SB 25 Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
March 22, 2016 KS SB 439 Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
March 14, 2016 National PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
Feb. 24, 2016 UT SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 6, 2015 ND HB 1181 Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Jan. 27, 2015 CO SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 11, 2014 FL SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 30, 2014 IL SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
May 29, 2014 CA SB 1253 Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
May 16, 2014 MO HJR 72 Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4)
May 13, 2014 MN HF 3169 Establishes a Legislative Salary Council Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25)
March 27, 2014 TN HB 937 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
March 17, 2014 KY SB 221 Authorizes Legislative Leaders to Intervene in Certain Court Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
March 13, 2014 NY S 2031A Amends the Board of Regents Appointment Process Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
Feb. 25, 2014 KY SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2014 SD SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 11, 2014 WI AB 161 Authorizes the Appeal of Court Orders that Suspend State Law Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Feb. 6, 2014 KY SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 30, 2013 National H J Res 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46)
Sept. 27, 2013 National H J Res 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44)
Aug. 23, 2013 KY HB 1 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/25 S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
4/05 SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
4/04 SB 25 Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
3/22 SB 439 Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
3/14 PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
2/24 SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/06 HB 1181 Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
1/27 SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/11 SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/30 SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
5/29 SB 1253 Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
5/16 HJR 72 Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4)
5/13 HF 3169 Establishes a Legislative Salary Council Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25)
3/27 HB 937 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
3/17 SB 221 Authorizes Legislative Leaders to Intervene in Certain Court Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
3/13 S 2031A Amends the Board of Regents Appointment Process Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19)
3/05 HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
2/25 SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/12 SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/11 AB 161 Authorizes the Appeal of Court Orders that Suspend State Law Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
2/06 SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
9/30 H J Res 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46)
9/27 H J Res 59 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44)
8/23 HB 1 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)

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