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
Feb. 13, 2007 IA SF 61 Harassment In Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
Feb. 12, 2007 IN SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Feb. 12, 2007 SD SB 199 Mandatory School Attendance Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Feb. 12, 2007 IN SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Feb. 12, 2007 IN SB 1 Indiana Commerce Connector and Illiana Expressway Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
Feb. 9, 2007 UT HB 148 Parent Choice in Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
Feb. 8, 2007 ND SB 2164 Public Smoking Ban Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 30)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
Feb. 7, 2007 NM SB 238 Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 7)
Feb. 5, 2007 VA SB 1161 Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Feb. 5, 2007 NJ A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 2, 2007 VA Sub SB 905 Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Jan. 31, 2007 GA SCS SB 10 Special Needs Scholarship Act Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
Jan. 30, 2007 CO SB 60 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Jan. 30, 2007 IA SF 61 Harassment In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
Jan. 29, 2007 AZ SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2007 CO SB 1 Discounted Prescription Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Jan. 24, 2007 SD SB 74 Allowing Friends to Make Medical Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Jan. 22, 2007 CO SB 26 Funding Full-Day Kindergarten Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Dec. 7, 2006 National PN 1396 Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11)
Dec. 6, 2006 National PN 2191 Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Sept. 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4999 Security of Cargo Containers Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
Sept. 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4936 National Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57)
Sept. 7, 2006 National S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
Sept. 6, 2006 National S Amdt 4882 Cluster Munitions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1379 Biomonitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1414 Health Care Requirements for Large Companies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Aug. 30, 2006 CA AB 2076 Needle Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Aug. 22, 2006 CA AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
July 19, 2006 NC HB 2699 Early Childhood Vision Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
July 19, 2006 NC HB 2699 Early Childhood Vision Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
July 18, 2006 NC HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
July 18, 2006 NC HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
July 14, 2006 IA HF 2351 Eminent Domain Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
July 13, 2006 MA H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
July 12, 2006 National S Amdt 4587 Transit Security Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
July 12, 2006 National S Amdt 4553 Rail and Transit Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
July 8, 2006 NJ A 4705 Tobacco Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
July 8, 2006 NJ A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
June 28, 2006 PA HB 804 Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
June 22, 2006 National S Amdt 4442 Troop Redeployment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86)
June 22, 2006 National S 2766 Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
June 15, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/13 SF 61 Harassment In Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
2/12 SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
2/12 SB 199 Mandatory School Attendance Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
2/12 SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
2/12 SB 1 Indiana Commerce Connector and Illiana Expressway Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
2/09 HB 148 Parent Choice in Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
2/08 SB 2164 Public Smoking Ban Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 30)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
2/07 SB 238 Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 7)
2/05 SB 1161 Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
2/05 A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/02 Sub SB 905 Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
1/31 SCS SB 10 Special Needs Scholarship Act Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
1/30 SB 60 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Survivors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
1/30 SF 61 Harassment In Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
1/29 SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
1/26 SB 1 Discounted Prescription Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
1/24 SB 74 Allowing Friends to Make Medical Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
1/23 SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
1/22 SB 26 Funding Full-Day Kindergarten Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
12/07 PN 1396 Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11)
12/06 PN 2191 Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2)
9/28 S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
9/28 S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
9/28 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
9/13 S Amdt 4999 Security of Cargo Containers Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
9/13 S Amdt 4936 National Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57)
9/07 S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
9/06 S Amdt 4882 Cluster Munitions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70)
8/31 SB 1379 Biomonitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
8/31 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
8/31 SB 1414 Health Care Requirements for Large Companies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
8/30 AB 2076 Needle Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
8/29 AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
8/29 AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
8/22 AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
7/19 HB 2699 Early Childhood Vision Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
7/19 HB 2699 Early Childhood Vision Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
7/18 HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
7/18 HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
7/14 HF 2351 Eminent Domain Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
7/13 H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
7/12 S Amdt 4587 Transit Security Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
7/12 S Amdt 4553 Rail and Transit Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
7/08 A 4705 Tobacco Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
7/08 A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
6/28 HB 804 Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
6/22 S Amdt 4442 Troop Redeployment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86)
6/22 S 2766 Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
6/15 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)

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