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 7, 2006 WI SJR 5 Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 7, 2006 OK HCS HB 2138 Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction Bill Passed - House (70 - 25)
March 7, 2006 VA SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
March 7, 2006 IA HF 2558 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
March 7, 2006 National S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
March 7, 2006 National S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
March 6, 2006 AZ SB 1425 Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 6, 2006 AZ SB 1425 Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 6, 2006 AZ SB 1273 Border Radar Lease Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
March 6, 2006 OK SB 1434 Prescription Drug Reimportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 6, 2006 ID H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - House (49 - 12)
March 6, 2006 ID H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - House (49 - 12)
March 2, 2006 National HR 3199 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
March 2, 2006 National HR 3199 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
March 2, 2006 IN HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 2, 2006 GA SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
March 2, 2006 GA SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
March 2, 2006 GA SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
March 2, 2006 IN HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 2, 2006 NJ A 798 New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
March 1, 2006 UT 2SSB 19 Additions to Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34)
March 1, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
March 1, 2006 UT HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 1, 2006 UT HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 1, 2006 ID SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/07 SJR 5 Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/07 HCS HB 2138 Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction Bill Passed - House (70 - 25)
3/07 SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
3/07 HF 2558 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
3/07 S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
3/07 S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
3/06 SB 1425 Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/06 SB 1425 Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency. Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/06 SB 1273 Border Radar Lease Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
3/06 SB 1434 Prescription Drug Reimportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/06 H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - House (49 - 12)
3/06 H 630 School Grounds - Violence Bill Passed - House (49 - 12)
3/02 HR 3199 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
3/02 HR 3199 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
3/02 HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/02 SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
3/02 SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
3/02 SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
3/02 HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/02 A 798 New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
3/01 2SSB 19 Additions to Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34)
3/01 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
3/01 HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/01 HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/01 SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)

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