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 4, 2013 FL SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
April 3, 2013 MS SB 2659 Establishes a Grant for School Resource Officers in Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 36)
April 3, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - House (78 - 61)
April 3, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - House (78 - 61)
April 3, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - House (78 - 61)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - House (105 - 44)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - House (105 - 44)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - House (105 - 44)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
April 3, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 3, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 1, 2013 AR SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - House (52 - 45)
March 28, 2013 DE HB 35 Requires Background Checks Prior to the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
March 27, 2013 AR SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 27, 2013 NH HB 451 Repeals License Requirement to Carry a Firearm "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (226 - 144)
March 27, 2013 NH HB 135 Repeals "Use of Deadly Force" Provision in Self-Defense Law Bill Passed - House (189 - 184)
March 26, 2013 KY HB 279 Prohibits the Government from Impeding Religious Activities Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 26, 2013 KY HB 279 Prohibits the Government from Impeding Religious Activities Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 15)
March 26, 2013 NC HB 17 Prohibits Disclosure of Concealed Firearm Permit Information Bill Passed - House (97 - 20)
March 26, 2013 DE SB 19 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
March 25, 2013 MD SB 339 Classifies Using a Cell Phone While Driving As a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
March 25, 2013 IA HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (79 - 18)
March 25, 2013 IA HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (79 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/04 SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
4/03 SB 2659 Establishes a Grant for School Resource Officers in Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 36)
4/03 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - House (78 - 61)
4/03 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - House (78 - 61)
4/03 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - House (78 - 61)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - House (105 - 44)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - House (105 - 44)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - House (105 - 44)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
4/03 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/03 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/01 SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - House (52 - 45)
3/28 HB 35 Requires Background Checks Prior to the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
3/27 SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/27 HB 451 Repeals License Requirement to Carry a Firearm "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (226 - 144)
3/27 HB 135 Repeals "Use of Deadly Force" Provision in Self-Defense Law Bill Passed - House (189 - 184)
3/26 HB 279 Prohibits the Government from Impeding Religious Activities Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/26 HB 279 Prohibits the Government from Impeding Religious Activities Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 15)
3/26 HB 17 Prohibits Disclosure of Concealed Firearm Permit Information Bill Passed - House (97 - 20)
3/26 SB 19 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
3/25 SB 339 Classifies Using a Cell Phone While Driving As a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
3/25 HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (79 - 18)
3/25 HF 527 Requires DNA Samples from Individuals Convicted Of Aggravated Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (79 - 18)

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