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, 2018 KS HB 2042 Authorizes Individuals Aged 18-20 to Obtain a Concealed Carry Permit Bill Passed - House (76 - 44)
Jan. 25, 2018 WA SB 5992 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Jan. 19, 2018 WA SB 5766 Requires School Districts to Adopt Transgender Student Policies and Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Jan. 18, 2018 CA AB 282 Amends the End of Life Option Act Bill Passed - House (45 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2018 FL HB 6001 Repeals Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (83 - 18)
Jan. 11, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
Jan. 11, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
Jan. 11, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
Jan. 3, 2018 NH HB 372 Amends Definition of Residency for Voting Purposes "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
Dec. 14, 2017 National HR 4324 Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access to Finance Act Bill Passed - House (252 - 167)
Dec. 6, 2017 National HR 38 Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (231 - 198)
Nov. 8, 2017 MI SB 366 Authorizes 18-Year-Olds to Obtain Concealed Carry Permits Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Nov. 8, 2017 MI SB 586 Prohibits Localities from Placing Restrictions on Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 7, 2017 WI SB 54 Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Nov. 7, 2017 WI SB 54 Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Oct. 26, 2017 MA S 2200 Amends Various Criminal Justice Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Oct. 26, 2017 National HR 1698 Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act Bill Passed - House (423 - 2)
Oct. 26, 2017 IL HB 4117 Prohibits Possession of "Bump Stocks" Bill Failed - House (48 - 54)
Oct. 24, 2017 National HR 2142 International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology Act Bill Passed - House (412 - 3)
Oct. 24, 2017 National HR 3898 Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act Bill Passed - House (415 - 2)
Oct. 11, 2017 OH HB 79 Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Carry Firearms while on Duty Bill Passed - House (90 - 7)
Oct. 11, 2017 MA Amdt 1 Prohibits Sale or Possession of "Bump Stocks" Bill Passed - House (152 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/02 HB 2042 Authorizes Individuals Aged 18-20 to Obtain a Concealed Carry Permit Bill Passed - House (76 - 44)
1/25 SB 5992 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
1/19 SB 5766 Requires School Districts to Adopt Transgender Student Policies and Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
1/18 AB 282 Amends the End of Life Option Act Bill Passed - House (45 - 17)
1/12 HB 6001 Repeals Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (83 - 18)
1/11 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
1/11 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
1/11 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (256 - 164)
1/03 HB 372 Amends Definition of Residency for Voting Purposes "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
12/14 HR 4324 Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access to Finance Act Bill Passed - House (252 - 167)
12/06 HR 38 Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (231 - 198)
11/08 SB 366 Authorizes 18-Year-Olds to Obtain Concealed Carry Permits Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
11/08 SB 586 Prohibits Localities from Placing Restrictions on Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/07 SB 54 Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
11/07 SB 54 Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
10/26 S 2200 Amends Various Criminal Justice Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
10/26 HR 1698 Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act Bill Passed - House (423 - 2)
10/26 HB 4117 Prohibits Possession of "Bump Stocks" Bill Failed - House (48 - 54)
10/24 HR 2142 International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology Act Bill Passed - House (412 - 3)
10/24 HR 3898 Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act Bill Passed - House (415 - 2)
10/11 HB 79 Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Carry Firearms while on Duty Bill Passed - House (90 - 7)
10/11 Amdt 1 Prohibits Sale or Possession of "Bump Stocks" Bill Passed - House (152 - 3)

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