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
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
May 25, 2006 National S 2611 Immigration Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
May 24, 2006 MA H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
May 24, 2006 National S Amdt 4095 H-2C Visa Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1713 Trafficking Illegal Drugs Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1713 Trafficking Illegal Drugs Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24)
May 24, 2006 MI Sub for HB 5192 Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
May 23, 2006 National S Amdt 4087 Orange Card Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
May 23, 2006 National S Amdt 4177 Employer Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4073 English as Unifying Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4064 English As National Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 35)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4072 "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program" Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
May 18, 2006 OK SB 1742 Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
May 17, 2006 National S Amdt 3965 Employment-based Immigrant Visa Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
May 16, 2006 WI SJR 5 Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
May 16, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
May 16, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
May 11, 2006 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
May 11, 2006 CA SB 1437 Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 11, 2006 CA SB 1437 Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 10, 2006 KS HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
May 10, 2006 KS HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
May 8, 2006 CO HB 1314 Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employer’s Religious or Political Speech Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
May 7, 2006 AK HCS CS SB 20 Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
May 4, 2006 CO HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 4, 2006 CO HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 4, 2006 CO HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 4, 2006 NH HB 1331 TANF Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8)
May 3, 2006 CO HB 1090 Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
May 3, 2006 CO HB 1090 Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
May 3, 2006 OK HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
May 3, 2006 OK HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
May 3, 2006 CO HB 1315 Juvenile Criminal Parole Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 2, 2006 HI SB 3262 Smoking Ban Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
May 2, 2006 TX HB 3 Business Tax Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
May 1, 2006 KS HB 2554 DNA Sampling in Felony Cases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11)
April 28, 2006 ME HCA C to LD 1717 Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
April 28, 2006 ME HCA C to LD 1717 Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
April 27, 2006 CT Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
5/25 S 2611 Immigration Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
5/24 H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
5/24 S Amdt 4095 H-2C Visa Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
5/24 SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
5/24 SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
5/24 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
5/24 SB 1713 Trafficking Illegal Drugs Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24)
5/24 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
5/24 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
5/24 SB 1713 Trafficking Illegal Drugs Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24)
5/24 Sub for HB 5192 Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
5/23 S Amdt 4087 Orange Card Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
5/23 S Amdt 4177 Employer Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
5/23 SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/23 SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/23 SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
5/23 SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
5/18 S Amdt 4073 English as Unifying Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
5/18 S Amdt 4064 English As National Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 35)
5/18 S Amdt 4072 "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program" Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
5/18 SB 1742 Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
5/17 S Amdt 3965 Employment-based Immigrant Visa Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
5/16 SJR 5 Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
5/16 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
5/16 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
5/11 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
5/11 SB 1437 Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/11 SB 1437 Sexual Diversity Content in Public School Curriculums Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/10 HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
5/10 HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
5/08 HB 1314 Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employer’s Religious or Political Speech Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
5/07 HCS CS SB 20 Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
5/04 HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/04 HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/04 HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/04 HB 1331 TANF Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8)
5/03 HB 1090 Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
5/03 HB 1090 Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
5/03 HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
5/03 HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
5/03 HB 1315 Juvenile Criminal Parole Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/02 SB 3262 Smoking Ban Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
5/02 HB 3 Business Tax Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
5/01 HB 2554 DNA Sampling in Felony Cases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11)
4/28 HCA C to LD 1717 Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
4/28 HCA C to LD 1717 Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
4/27 Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)

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