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 20, 2010 WI Amdt 6 Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 24)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 943 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 19, 2010 AZ Burges Amdt Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31)
April 18, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
April 18, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
April 17, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Bill Passed - House (31 - 8)
April 17, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Bill Passed - House (31 - 8)
April 16, 2010 CO HB 1376 2010-2011 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (38 - 25)
April 16, 2010 CO HB 1376 2010-2011 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
April 15, 2010 CO SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 15, 2010 MO SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 14, 2010 HI HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7)
April 14, 2010 HI HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 11)
April 14, 2010 GA HB 1055 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 63)
April 14, 2010 SC H 3584 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 14, 2010 LA HB 292 Open Primaries for Congressional Elections Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
April 14, 2010 LA HB 292 Open Primaries for Congressional Elections Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
April 14, 2010 LA Amdt 2565 Limiting the Number of Terms School Board Members May Serve Amendment Rejected - House (30 - 65)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
April 12, 2010 WA SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 44)
April 12, 2010 WA SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 21)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
April 12, 2010 WA SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
April 12, 2010 WA HB 2836 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Capital Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 36)
April 12, 2010 WA HB 2493 Cigarette Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 43)
April 12, 2010 CO SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Bill Passed - House (42 - 21)
April 12, 2010 WA HB 2493 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
April 12, 2010 WA HB 2836 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Capital Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 10, 2010 WA SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - House (105 - 33)
April 8, 2010 NE LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
April 7, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 7, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - House (100 - 48)
April 7, 2010 AK HB 348 Alaska Personnel Board Amendments Bill Passed - House (29 - 10)
April 6, 2010 ME LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 6, 2010 ME LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (91 - 53)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
April 2, 2010 WA SB 6503 State Employee Furlough Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 38)
April 1, 2010 GA HB 307 Hospital Medicaid Fee Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 1, 2010 GA HB 1023 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 1, 2010 CO HB 1387 Highway User Tax Fund Diversion to Licensing Services Fund Bill Passed - House (38 - 27)
April 1, 2010 AL SB 233 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
March 31, 2010 AZ SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - House (34 - 24)
March 31, 2010 MO HB 1601 St. Louis Police Department Governance Modifications Motion Rejected - House (66 - 86)
March 31, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
March 31, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/20 Amdt 6 Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 24)
4/20 SB 943 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/19 Burges Amdt Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31)
4/18 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
4/18 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
4/17 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Bill Passed - House (31 - 8)
4/17 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Bill Passed - House (31 - 8)
4/16 HB 1376 2010-2011 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (38 - 25)
4/16 HB 1376 2010-2011 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
4/15 SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/15 SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/14 HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7)
4/14 HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 11)
4/14 HB 1055 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 63)
4/14 H 3584 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/14 HB 292 Open Primaries for Congressional Elections Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
4/14 HB 292 Open Primaries for Congressional Elections Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
4/14 Amdt 2565 Limiting the Number of Terms School Board Members May Serve Amendment Rejected - House (30 - 65)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
4/12 SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 44)
4/12 SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 21)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
4/12 SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
4/12 HB 2836 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Capital Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 36)
4/12 HB 2493 Cigarette Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 43)
4/12 SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Bill Passed - House (42 - 21)
4/12 HB 2493 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
4/12 HB 2836 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Capital Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/10 SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44)
4/09 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - House (105 - 33)
4/08 LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
4/07 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/07 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - House (100 - 48)
4/07 HB 348 Alaska Personnel Board Amendments Bill Passed - House (29 - 10)
4/06 LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/06 LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (91 - 53)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
4/02 SB 6503 State Employee Furlough Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 38)
4/01 HB 307 Hospital Medicaid Fee Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/01 HB 1023 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/01 HB 1387 Highway User Tax Fund Diversion to Licensing Services Fund Bill Passed - House (38 - 27)
4/01 SB 233 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
3/31 SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - House (34 - 24)
3/31 HB 1601 St. Louis Police Department Governance Modifications Motion Rejected - House (66 - 86)
3/31 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
3/31 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)

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