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 13, 2008 National S Amdt 4231 Immigration Enforcement and Border Fence Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 37)
March 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
March 13, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
March 12, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40)
March 12, 2008 IA SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 12, 2008 MD SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 12, 2008 MD SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 12, 2008 KY SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
March 11, 2008 National HR 2082 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Veto Override Failed - House (225 - 188)
March 11, 2008 AZ HB 2389 Involving Gun Owners' Rights Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
March 10, 2008 WA HB 2476 Tribal Police Jurisdiction Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32)
March 10, 2008 AZ HB 2573 Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations Bill Passed - House (43 - 13)
March 10, 2008 CO HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 10, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
March 10, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
March 10, 2008 OK HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
March 7, 2008 WA HB 2476 Tribal Police Jurisdiction Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 7, 2008 CO HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 21)
March 6, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2)
March 6, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
March 5, 2008 CO HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
March 5, 2008 CO HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
March 5, 2008 MS SB 2988 Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (112 - 8)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
March 5, 2008 UT SB 299 Domestic Partnership Benefits Bill Passed - House (61 - 9)
March 5, 2008 National HR 1424 Mental Health Coverage Bill Bill Passed - House (268 - 148)
March 4, 2008 MO HA 5 Defining Mifepristone as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Amendment Adopted - House
March 4, 2008 AZ HB 2630 Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
March 4, 2008 IL HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
March 4, 2008 AZ HB 2630 Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
March 4, 2008 WI SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 297 Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty Bill Passed - House (62 - 6)
March 4, 2008 KY HB 31 Felony Record Expungement Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
March 3, 2008 UT AM 1 Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29)
March 3, 2008 UT SB 299 Domestic Partnership Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 3, 2008 UT HB 473 Campus Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (60 - 11)
March 3, 2008 WY HB 73 Increasing DUI Penalties Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
March 3, 2008 AZ HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
March 3, 2008 WY HB 73 Increasing DUI Penalties Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
March 3, 2008 AZ HB 2359 County Sheriff and Border Patrol Collaboration Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 581 Gun Possession During Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/13 S Amdt 4231 Immigration Enforcement and Border Fence Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 37)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
3/13 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
3/12 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40)
3/12 SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/12 SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/12 SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/12 SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
3/11 HR 2082 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Veto Override Failed - House (225 - 188)
3/11 HB 2389 Involving Gun Owners' Rights Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
3/10 HB 2476 Tribal Police Jurisdiction Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32)
3/10 HB 2573 Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations Bill Passed - House (43 - 13)
3/10 HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/10 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
3/10 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
3/10 HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
3/07 HB 2476 Tribal Police Jurisdiction Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/07 HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 21)
3/06 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2)
3/06 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2)
3/06 HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
3/06 HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
3/05 HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
3/05 HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
3/05 SB 2988 Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (112 - 8)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
3/05 SB 299 Domestic Partnership Benefits Bill Passed - House (61 - 9)
3/05 HR 1424 Mental Health Coverage Bill Bill Passed - House (268 - 148)
3/04 HA 5 Defining Mifepristone as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Amendment Adopted - House
3/04 HB 2630 Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
3/04 HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
3/04 HB 2630 Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
3/04 HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
3/04 SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/04 SB 297 Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty Bill Passed - House (62 - 6)
3/04 HB 31 Felony Record Expungement Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
3/03 AM 1 Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29)
3/03 SB 299 Domestic Partnership Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/03 HB 473 Campus Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (60 - 11)
3/03 HB 73 Increasing DUI Penalties Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
3/03 HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
3/03 HB 73 Increasing DUI Penalties Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
3/03 HB 2359 County Sheriff and Border Patrol Collaboration Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
2/28 A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 AB 581 Gun Possession During Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
2/28 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)

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