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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 8, 2011 | National | HR 514 | Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions | Bill Failed - House (277 - 148) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 1465 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | ND | HB 1377 | Children's Health Insurance Program | Bill Failed - House (25 - 67) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 2332 | Citizenship of Arrestee | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | HB 204 | Patriotism in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (52 - 5) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | AR | HB 1013 | Hiring of Unauthorized Workers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | WY | HB 198 | Admissibility of Evidence in Sex Offense Cases | Bill Failed - House (29 - 30) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | ID | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | SD | HB 1152 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - House (32 - 36) |
| Feb. 4, 2011 | WV | HB 2562 | Legalizing Mixed Martial Arts | Bill Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| Feb. 3, 2011 | WY | HB 188 | Legalizes Casual Poker Games | Bill Failed - House (22 - 38) |
| Feb. 3, 2011 | UT | HB 223 | Innkeeper's Rights Act Modification | Bill Failed - House (22 - 48) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | WY | HB 186 | Wyoming Lottery | Bill Failed - House (27 - 33) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | VA | HJ 593 | Free Exercise of Religion | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | IA | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | ID | H 26 | Increment in fees for felonies and misdemeanors | Bill Failed - House (31 - 35) |
| Jan. 27, 2011 | MS | SB 2179 | Restrictions on Employers of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 40) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | WY | HB 31 | Electronic Wagering | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | WY | HB 29 | Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| Jan. 25, 2011 | WY | HB 31 | Electronic Wagering | Bill Failed - House (29 - 29) |
| Jan. 24, 2011 | WY | HB 74 | Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (32 - 27) |
| Jan. 21, 2011 | MT | HB 167 | Criminalizes Death to an Unborn Child | Bill Passed - House (68 - 30) |
| Jan. 18, 2011 | MT | HB 71 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - House (60 - 40) |
| Dec. 15, 2010 | National | HR 2965 | Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| Nov. 30, 2010 | IL | SB 1716 | Authorizing Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| Nov. 30, 2010 | IL | SB 1716 | Authorizing Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| Nov. 22, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| Sept. 22, 2010 | National | HR 3470 | Infant Mortality Pilot Programs | Bill Passed - House (324 - 64) |
| Sept. 22, 2010 | National | HR 3470 | Infant Mortality Pilot Programs | Bill Passed - House (324 - 64) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| Aug. 30, 2010 | CA | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 24, 2010 | CA | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole | Bill Failed - House (34 - 38) |
| July 31, 2010 | MA | H 5000 | Gambling Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36) |
| July 28, 2010 | National | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
| July 21, 2010 | National | HR 725 | Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| July 8, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 80 | Banning Electronic Sweepstakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| July 1, 2010 | NY | S 1523 | Allowing Unmarried Partners to Adopt a Child | Bill Passed - House (95 - 44) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/08 | HR 514 | Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions | Bill Failed - House (277 - 148) |
| 2/08 | HB 1465 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| 2/08 | HB 1377 | Children's Health Insurance Program | Bill Failed - House (25 - 67) |
| 2/08 | HB 2332 | Citizenship of Arrestee | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 2/08 | HB 204 | Patriotism in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (52 - 5) |
| 2/07 | HB 1013 | Hiring of Unauthorized Workers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| 2/07 | HB 198 | Admissibility of Evidence in Sex Offense Cases | Bill Failed - House (29 - 30) |
| 2/07 | HJM 1 | Parental Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 2/07 | HB 1152 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - House (32 - 36) |
| 2/04 | HB 2562 | Legalizing Mixed Martial Arts | Bill Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| 2/03 | HB 188 | Legalizes Casual Poker Games | Bill Failed - House (22 - 38) |
| 2/03 | HB 223 | Innkeeper's Rights Act Modification | Bill Failed - House (22 - 48) |
| 2/02 | HB 186 | Wyoming Lottery | Bill Failed - House (27 - 33) |
| 2/01 | HJ 593 | Free Exercise of Religion | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
| 2/01 | HJR 6 | Banning Same Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37) |
| 2/01 | H 26 | Increment in fees for felonies and misdemeanors | Bill Failed - House (31 - 35) |
| 1/27 | SB 2179 | Restrictions on Employers of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 40) |
| 1/26 | HB 31 | Electronic Wagering | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
| 1/26 | H 3003 | Voter ID | Bill Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| 1/26 | HB 29 | Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| 1/25 | HB 31 | Electronic Wagering | Bill Failed - House (29 - 29) |
| 1/24 | HB 74 | Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (32 - 27) |
| 1/21 | HB 167 | Criminalizes Death to an Unborn Child | Bill Passed - House (68 - 30) |
| 1/18 | HB 71 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - House (60 - 40) |
| 12/15 | HR 2965 | Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175) |
| 12/08 | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| 11/30 | SB 1716 | Authorizing Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| 11/30 | SB 1716 | Authorizing Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| 11/22 | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| 11/15 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| 11/15 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| 10/05 | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| 10/05 | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| 9/22 | HR 3470 | Infant Mortality Pilot Programs | Bill Passed - House (324 - 64) |
| 9/22 | HR 3470 | Infant Mortality Pilot Programs | Bill Passed - House (324 - 64) |
| 8/31 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| 8/31 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| 8/30 | SB 1317 | Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy | Bill Passed - House (58 - 17) |
| 8/26 | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/24 | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole | Bill Failed - House (34 - 38) |
| 7/31 | H 5000 | Gambling Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36) |
| 7/28 | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
| 7/21 | HR 725 | Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92) |
| 7/10 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| 7/10 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| 7/08 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| 7/07 | HB 80 | Banning Electronic Sweepstakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| 7/07 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| 7/07 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| 7/01 | S 1523 | Allowing Unmarried Partners to Adopt a Child | Bill Passed - House (95 - 44) |