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
March 10, 2015 SD SB 69 Amends Procedures for Elections and Election Petitions Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
March 10, 2015 NM HB 366 Authorizes State Regulation of Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
March 10, 2015 AZ HB 2368 Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
March 9, 2015 KY HB 203 Increases Limit on Individual Campaign Donations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
March 6, 2015 AR HJR 1003 Requests a Constitutional Convention Bill Passed - House (52 - 33)
March 6, 2015 AZ SB 1340 Requires Photo Identification for Early Ballot Volunteers Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
March 5, 2015 OR HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 4, 2015 WY SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
March 3, 2015 OK SB 315 Amends Absentee Ballot Application Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2015 KS SB 171 Amends Voting Schedule Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 25, 2015 AZ HB 2608 Amends Signature Requirements for Political Candidate Nominations Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
Feb. 24, 2015 ND HB 1157 Authorizes Public Officials to Possess Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Failed - House (45 - 47)
Feb. 23, 2015 NJ S 2430 Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2015 OR HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO HB 30 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 37)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO SB 104 Establishes Deadline for Changes to Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Feb. 19, 2015 AR HB 1355 Authorizes Local Control of Fluoride in Water Systems Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
Feb. 13, 2015 AR SB 202 Prohibits New Classes of Protected Individuals Bill Passed - House (58 - 21)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2389 Authorizes Joining Interstate Compact for a Balanced Federal Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 11, 2015 ND HB 1259 Requires Performance Audits of Certain State Agencies Bill Failed - House (22 - 67)
Feb. 10, 2015 WV HB 2217 Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 34)
Feb. 9, 2015 MT HB 203 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
Feb. 5, 2015 National HR 527 Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (260 - 163)
Feb. 4, 2015 National HR 50 Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (250 - 173)
Feb. 4, 2015 WV HB 2217 Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
Feb. 3, 2015 WV SB 249 Repeals Straight-Ticket Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 2, 2015 WY HB 114 Authorizes Concealed Carry in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
Jan. 30, 2015 WY SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Jan. 27, 2015 CO SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Jan. 21, 2015 National HR 161 Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act Bill Passed - House (253 - 169)
Jan. 13, 2015 National HR 185 Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (250 - 175)
Dec. 11, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Dec. 10, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Bill Passed - House (58 - 31)
Dec. 9, 2014 OH HB 5 Amends Municipal Income Tax Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 32)
Dec. 4, 2014 National HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
Dec. 4, 2014 OH HB 661 Increases Salaries of Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (56 - 26)
Dec. 3, 2014 OH HB 5 Amends Municipal Income Tax Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Dec. 1, 2014 NJ S 536 Amends Early Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Dec. 1, 2014 NJ S 536 Amends Early Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Nov. 19, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets unless an Officer is Present Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Nov. 18, 2014 National HR 1422 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
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)
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)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ S 2430 Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Oct. 20, 2014 PA HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56)
Oct. 16, 2014 PA HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/10 SB 69 Amends Procedures for Elections and Election Petitions Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
3/10 HB 366 Authorizes State Regulation of Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
3/10 HB 2368 Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
3/09 HB 203 Increases Limit on Individual Campaign Donations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
3/06 HJR 1003 Requests a Constitutional Convention Bill Passed - House (52 - 33)
3/06 SB 1340 Requires Photo Identification for Early Ballot Volunteers Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
3/05 HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/04 SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
3/03 SB 315 Amends Absentee Ballot Application Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
2/26 SB 171 Amends Voting Schedule Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/25 HB 2608 Amends Signature Requirements for Political Candidate Nominations Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
2/24 HB 1157 Authorizes Public Officials to Possess Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Failed - House (45 - 47)
2/23 S 2430 Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
2/20 HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
2/19 HB 30 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 37)
2/19 HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
2/19 HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
2/19 SB 104 Establishes Deadline for Changes to Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
2/19 HB 1355 Authorizes Local Control of Fluoride in Water Systems Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
2/13 SB 202 Prohibits New Classes of Protected Individuals Bill Passed - House (58 - 21)
2/11 SB 2389 Authorizes Joining Interstate Compact for a Balanced Federal Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/11 HB 1259 Requires Performance Audits of Certain State Agencies Bill Failed - House (22 - 67)
2/10 HB 2217 Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 34)
2/09 HB 203 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
2/05 HR 527 Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (260 - 163)
2/04 HR 50 Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (250 - 173)
2/04 HB 2217 Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
2/03 SB 249 Repeals Straight-Ticket Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/02 HB 114 Authorizes Concealed Carry in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
1/30 SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
1/27 SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
1/21 HR 161 Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act Bill Passed - House (253 - 169)
1/13 HR 185 Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (250 - 175)
12/11 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
12/10 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Bill Passed - House (58 - 31)
12/09 HB 5 Amends Municipal Income Tax Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 32)
12/04 HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
12/04 HB 661 Increases Salaries of Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (56 - 26)
12/03 HB 5 Amends Municipal Income Tax Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
12/01 S 536 Amends Early Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
12/01 S 536 Amends Early Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
11/19 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets unless an Officer is Present Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
11/18 HR 1422 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
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)
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)
10/23 S 2430 Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
10/20 HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56)
10/16 HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)

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