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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 31, 2013 | WY | HB 130 | Authorizes Public Schools to Offer Elective Bible Study Classes | Bill Passed - House (44 - 15) |
| Jan. 30, 2013 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Failed - House (25 - 34) |
| Jan. 29, 2013 | SD | HB 1087 | Authorizes School Sentinel Programs | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
| Jan. 28, 2013 | NJ | A 3614 | Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| Jan. 24, 2013 | RI | H 5015 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| Jan. 16, 2013 | WY | HB 23 | Requires Juvenile Offenders to Be Eligible for Parole While Serving a Life Sentence | Bill Passed - House (42 - 17) |
| Jan. 15, 2013 | NY | S 2230 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (104 - 43) |
| Jan. 8, 2013 | IL | SB 957 | Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (65 - 46) |
| Dec. 17, 2012 | NJ | A 2578 | Authorizes Internet Gaming at Atlantic City Casinos | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| Dec. 13, 2012 | OH | HB 495 | Amends Definition of Loaded Gun | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 23) |
| Dec. 13, 2012 | MI | SB 59 | Expands Areas Where Concealed Weapons are Authorized | Bill Passed - House (68 - 41) |
| Dec. 5, 2012 | OH | HB 605 | Prohibits Gambling In Internet Cafes | Bill Passed - House (63 - 30) |
| Dec. 4, 2012 | IL | SB 681 | Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28) |
| Nov. 30, 2012 | National | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 139) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | SB 941 | Increases Penalties for Public Intoxication | Bill Passed - House (104 - 87) |
| Sept. 20, 2012 | National | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Failed - House (257 - 158) |
| Sept. 12, 2012 | National | HR 5949 | FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (301 - 118) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | AB 2189 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Individuals Ineligible for a Social Security Number | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| Aug. 28, 2012 | CA | SB 1172 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2327 | Increases Penalties for the Misuse of Funds by Charitable Organizations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 18) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 26) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2109 | Requires Parents to Obtain a Waiver for Unvaccinated Children | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 29) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2348 | Authorizes Registered Nurses to Dispense Contraceptives | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 472 | Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 24) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 29) |