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 24, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
April 24, 2013 IL SB 923 Authorizes the Use of Traffic Cameras on School Buses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
April 22, 2013 NV SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
April 4, 2013 FL SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
April 4, 2013 FL SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
April 3, 2013 ME LD 272 Prohibits the Use of Tanning Facilities by Minors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 20, 2013 MD SB 30 Prohibits Smoking in Vehicles Containing Children Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 18, 2013 WV SB 464 Prohibits The Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 13, 2013 CO HB 1166 Repeals Classification of Adultery as a Criminal Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 13, 2013 UT HB 103 Prohibits Minors From Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 13, 2013 OR SB 444 Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 6, 2013 SD SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 6, 2013 OK SB 802 Prohibits the Sale of Electric Cigarettes to Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15)
March 1, 2013 UT HB 13 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 142 Prohibits Civil Action Lawsuits Concerning Abortion Consultation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Feb. 11, 2013 CO SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 6, 2013 SD SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 6, 2013 SD SB 107 Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2013 SD SB 107 Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Jan. 31, 2013 VA SB 975 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
Oct. 17, 2012 PA SB 850 Repeals Mandatory Life Sentences for Certain Juvenile Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Oct. 17, 2012 PA HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Aug. 30, 2012 CA SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 29, 2012 CA SB 1476 Authorizes Courts to Designate More than 2 Individuals as Parents of a Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/24 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
4/24 SB 923 Authorizes the Use of Traffic Cameras on School Buses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
4/22 SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
4/04 SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
4/04 SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
4/03 LD 272 Prohibits the Use of Tanning Facilities by Minors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/20 SB 30 Prohibits Smoking in Vehicles Containing Children Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/18 SB 464 Prohibits The Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/13 HB 1166 Repeals Classification of Adultery as a Criminal Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/13 HB 103 Prohibits Minors From Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/13 SB 444 Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/06 SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/06 SB 802 Prohibits the Sale of Electric Cigarettes to Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15)
3/01 HB 13 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
2/28 SB 142 Prohibits Civil Action Lawsuits Concerning Abortion Consultation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
2/14 SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
2/11 SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/06 SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/06 SB 107 Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/06 SB 107 Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
1/31 SB 975 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
10/17 SB 850 Repeals Mandatory Life Sentences for Certain Juvenile Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
10/17 HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
8/30 SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/29 SB 1476 Authorizes Courts to Designate More than 2 Individuals as Parents of a Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)

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