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. 25, 2008 VA HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 25, 2008 MO HB 1406 Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
Feb. 25, 2008 MS HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
Feb. 25, 2008 MS HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
Feb. 25, 2008 WV HB 4132 Prohibiting Mandatory Employee Participation in Political Events Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
Feb. 25, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - House (54 - 4)
Feb. 25, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - House (54 - 4)
Feb. 25, 2008 WV HB 4023 Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2008 WY HB 145 Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
Feb. 22, 2008 MD SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
Feb. 22, 2008 MD SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
Feb. 22, 2008 NE LB 395 Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Feb. 21, 2008 SD HB 1151 Adult-Oriented Business Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Feb. 21, 2008 UT SB 81 Expanding Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS HB 1089 Legalizing Deer Baiting Bill Passed - House (74 - 47)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS HB 1089 Legalizing Deer Baiting Bill Passed - House (74 - 47)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
Feb. 21, 2008 WY HB 46 Animal Abuse and Cruelty Bill Passed - House (56 - 2)
Feb. 21, 2008 WY HB 46 Animal Abuse and Cruelty Bill Passed - House (56 - 2)
Feb. 21, 2008 VA SB 476 Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 21, 2008 MI HB 4675 Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Open Meetings and Public Access Requirements Bill Passed - House (66 - 38)
Feb. 21, 2008 MD SB 111 Expanding Hate Crimes Classification to Homeless Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 4)
Feb. 21, 2008 VA SB 436 Concealed Weapons in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
Feb. 20, 2008 KY HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/25 HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/25 HB 1406 Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
2/25 HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
2/25 HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
2/25 HB 4132 Prohibiting Mandatory Employee Participation in Political Events Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
2/25 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - House (54 - 4)
2/25 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - House (54 - 4)
2/25 HB 4023 Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
2/25 HB 145 Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
2/22 SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
2/22 SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
2/22 LB 395 Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
2/21 HB 1151 Adult-Oriented Business Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
2/21 SB 81 Expanding Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/21 HB 1089 Legalizing Deer Baiting Bill Passed - House (74 - 47)
2/21 HB 1089 Legalizing Deer Baiting Bill Passed - House (74 - 47)
2/21 SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
2/21 HB 46 Animal Abuse and Cruelty Bill Passed - House (56 - 2)
2/21 HB 46 Animal Abuse and Cruelty Bill Passed - House (56 - 2)
2/21 SB 476 Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/21 HB 4675 Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Open Meetings and Public Access Requirements Bill Passed - House (66 - 38)
2/21 SB 111 Expanding Hate Crimes Classification to Homeless Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 4)
2/21 SB 436 Concealed Weapons in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
2/20 HB 396 HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)

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