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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | AZ | HB 2254 | Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain | Bill Passed - House (36 - 21) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | H Amdt 1215rb | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (42 - 25) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | H Amdt 1215fa | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 41) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | KS | Amend HB 2593 | Health Insurance Abortion Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 50) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | IN | HB 1172 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - House (70 - 30) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 85 | Parental Consent for Minors Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (65 - 8) |
| May 25, 2005 | National | H Amdt 209 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| April 27, 2005 | National | HR 748 | Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 157) |
| Oct. 21, 2003 | National | S 3 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34) |
| Oct. 2, 2003 | National | S 3 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 142) |
| June 4, 2003 | National | HR 760 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 139) |
| June 21, 2002 | National | S Amdt 3927 | Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| July 20, 2000 | National | H Amdt 1017 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 230) |
| July 13, 2000 | National | H Amdt 997 | Family Planning Assistance Funding amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221) |
| June 22, 2000 | National | H Amdt 882 | Prison Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 254) |
| June 20, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3252 | Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49) |
| May 18, 2000 | National | H Amdt 722 | Oversea Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 221) |
| April 5, 2000 | National | HR 3660 | Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (287 - 141) |
| Oct. 21, 1999 | National | S Amdt 2321 | Expressing Support for Roe v. Wade Decision | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Oct. 21, 1999 | National | S 1692 | Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
| June 9, 1999 | National | H Amdt 156 | Overseas Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 225) |
| June 8, 1999 | National | H Amdt 142 | Prohibition of Chemically Induced Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (217 - 214) |
| May 26, 1999 | National | S Amdt 397 | Overseas Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Sept. 18, 1998 | National | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 865 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 243) |
| July 23, 1998 | National | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132) |
| July 15, 1998 | National | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
| June 24, 1998 | National | H Amdt 705 | Chemical Inducement of Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 202) |
| May 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 643 | Abortion Private Funding Restoration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 232) |
| Oct. 8, 1997 | National | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (296 - 132) |
| Sept. 4, 1997 | National | S Amdt 1077 | Fetal Tissue Research Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 60) |
| July 22, 1997 | National | S Amdt 936 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| July 10, 1997 | National | S Amdt 593 | Abortions at Overseas Military Facilities | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| June 19, 1997 | National | H Amdt 187 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224) |
| May 20, 1997 | National | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| March 20, 1997 | National | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Bill Passed - House (295 - 136) |
| Feb. 13, 1997 | National | HR 581 | Population Planning Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 194) |
| Sept. 26, 1996 | National | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Sept. 19, 1996 | National | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137) |
| July 22, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1309 | Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223) |
| June 19, 1996 | National | S Amdt 4059 | Overseas Abortion Amendment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 51) |
| March 19, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3513 | Medical Professionals Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 37) |
| March 7, 1996 | National | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
| Dec. 7, 1995 | National | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
| Nov. 1, 1995 | National | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 139) |
| Sept. 7, 1995 | National | H Amdt 752 | Overseas Military Abortions | Amendment Adopted - House (226 - 191) |
| June 28, 1995 | National | H Amdt 477 | Abortion Funding Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (243 - 187) |
| June 15, 1995 | National | H Amdt 436 | Overseas Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 230) |
| May 24, 1995 | National | H Amdt 403 | Foreign Abortion Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 181) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30) |
| May 5, 1994 | National | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
| Oct. 18, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15) |
| Oct. 7, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | H Amdt 185 | Hyde Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (256 - 171) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| March 11, 1993 | National | HR 4 | Fetal Tissue Research Bill | Bill Passed - House (283 - 131) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 2/22 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/13 | HB 2254 | Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain | Bill Passed - House (36 - 21) |
| 2/09 | H Amdt 1215rb | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (42 - 25) |
| 2/09 | H Amdt 1215fa | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 41) |
| 2/09 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/07 | Amend HB 2593 | Health Insurance Abortion Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 50) |
| 2/01 | HB 1172 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - House (70 - 30) |
| 1/27 | 1SHB 85 | Parental Consent for Minors Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (65 - 8) |
| 5/25 | H Amdt 209 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| 4/27 | HR 748 | Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 157) |
| 10/21 | S 3 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34) |
| 10/02 | S 3 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 142) |
| 6/04 | HR 760 | Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (282 - 139) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 3927 | Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 7/20 | H Amdt 1017 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 230) |
| 7/13 | H Amdt 997 | Family Planning Assistance Funding amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221) |
| 6/22 | H Amdt 882 | Prison Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 254) |
| 6/20 | S Amdt 3252 | Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 5/18 | H Amdt 722 | Oversea Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 221) |
| 4/05 | HR 3660 | Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (287 - 141) |
| 10/21 | S Amdt 2321 | Expressing Support for Roe v. Wade Decision | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 10/21 | S 1692 | Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 156 | Overseas Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 225) |
| 6/08 | H Amdt 142 | Prohibition of Chemically Induced Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (217 - 214) |
| 5/26 | S Amdt 397 | Overseas Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 9/18 | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 8/06 | H Amdt 865 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 243) |
| 7/23 | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132) |
| 7/15 | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 705 | Chemical Inducement of Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 202) |
| 5/20 | H Amdt 643 | Abortion Private Funding Restoration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 232) |
| 10/08 | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (296 - 132) |
| 9/04 | S Amdt 1077 | Fetal Tissue Research Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 60) |
| 7/22 | S Amdt 936 | Abortion Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 7/10 | S Amdt 593 | Abortions at Overseas Military Facilities | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 6/19 | H Amdt 187 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224) |
| 5/20 | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 3/20 | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Bill Passed - House (295 - 136) |
| 2/13 | HR 581 | Population Planning Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 194) |
| 9/26 | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 9/19 | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137) |
| 7/22 | H Amdt 1309 | Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223) |
| 6/19 | S Amdt 4059 | Overseas Abortion Amendment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 51) |
| 3/19 | S Amdt 3513 | Medical Professionals Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 37) |
| 3/07 | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
| 12/07 | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 11/01 | HR 1833 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (288 - 139) |
| 9/07 | H Amdt 752 | Overseas Military Abortions | Amendment Adopted - House (226 - 191) |
| 6/28 | H Amdt 477 | Abortion Funding Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (243 - 187) |
| 6/15 | H Amdt 436 | Overseas Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 230) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 403 | Foreign Abortion Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 181) |
| 5/12 | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 5/05 | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
| 10/18 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 15) |
| 10/07 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (311 - 115) |
| 9/29 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 17) |
| 6/30 | H Amdt 185 | Hyde Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (256 - 171) |
| 6/30 | HR 2518 | Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (305 - 124) |
| 3/11 | HR 4 | Fetal Tissue Research Bill | Bill Passed - House (283 - 131) |