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 22, 2016 KS SB 439 Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
March 15, 2016 ID H 372 Prohibits Local Limitation on Use of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 14, 2016 National PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
March 14, 2016 National PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
March 10, 2016 AZ HB 2131 Prohibits Local Governments from Taxing Disposable Bags Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 10, 2016 KY SB 8 Requires the State Supreme Court to Review Judicial Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 10, 2016 KY SB 8 Requires the State Supreme Court to Review Judicial Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 10, 2016 MO SJR 39 Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
March 8, 2016 AZ SB 1516 Repeals Certain Campaign Finance Reforms Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
March 2, 2016 CO SB 74 Authorizes Voters to Opt Out of Mail Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 29, 2016 VA HB 587 Prohibits Removal of War Monuments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 29, 2016 GA SR 675 Establishes English as the Official Language of the State of Georgia Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2016 VA HB 1371 Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 25, 2016 AL HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2016 UT SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
Feb. 24, 2016 CO SB 112 Requires Certain Number of Polling Centers Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 24, 2016 UT SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
Feb. 24, 2016 UT SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
Feb. 22, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
Feb. 18, 2016 NC SB 2 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
Feb. 17, 2016 NM HB 138 Authorizes Certain Minors to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 16, 2016 WI SB 707 Prohibits a Legislator from Holding Office as County Executive Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
Feb. 9, 2016 MD HB 980 Authorizes Felons to Vote While on Parole Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2016 VA SB 270 Requires Cities to Enforce Federal Immigration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 9, 2016 WI SB 295 Authorizes Voters to Register Online Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/22 SB 439 Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
3/15 H 372 Prohibits Local Limitation on Use of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/14 PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
3/14 PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
3/10 HB 2131 Prohibits Local Governments from Taxing Disposable Bags Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/10 SB 8 Requires the State Supreme Court to Review Judicial Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/10 SB 8 Requires the State Supreme Court to Review Judicial Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/10 SJR 39 Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
3/08 SB 1516 Repeals Certain Campaign Finance Reforms Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
3/02 SB 74 Authorizes Voters to Opt Out of Mail Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/29 HB 587 Prohibits Removal of War Monuments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/29 SR 675 Establishes English as the Official Language of the State of Georgia Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 14)
2/26 HB 1371 Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/25 HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/24 SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
2/24 SB 112 Requires Certain Number of Polling Centers Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/24 SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
2/24 SJR 2 Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
2/22 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
2/18 SB 2 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
2/17 HB 138 Authorizes Certain Minors to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/16 SB 707 Prohibits a Legislator from Holding Office as County Executive Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
2/09 HB 980 Authorizes Felons to Vote While on Parole Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
2/09 SB 270 Requires Cities to Enforce Federal Immigration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/09 SB 295 Authorizes Voters to Register Online Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)

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