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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 25, 2011 NV SB 180 Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
April 19, 2011 AZ HB 2230 Relating to the 9/11 Memorial Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 24 Amending Rules of Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 3)
April 12, 2011 OK S Amdt 1 Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19)
April 11, 2011 GA HB 92 Limits Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
April 5, 2011 MD HB 302 Parole Approval Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 5, 2011 DE HB 19 Reduce Punishment for Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
March 30, 2011 NH SB 129 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
March 17, 2011 CA AB 109 Criminal Justice Realignment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 16, 2011 AZ SB 1613 Budget Proposal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 14, 2011 AZ SB 1467 Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 8, 2011 AZ SB 1610 Official State Gun Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 3, 2011 AZ SB 1201 Firearms Omnibus Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 2, 2011 NC SB 33 Medical Malpractice Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
March 1, 2011 WY HB 204 Patriotism in the Classroom Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
Feb. 28, 2011 WY HB 29 Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2011 MO SJR 2 Constitutional Amendment Requiring Voter Photo Identification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 23, 2011 OK SB 863 Compensation for Non-Economic Damages Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Feb. 22, 2011 WY HB 39 Funding for Lawsuit Against Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 19)
Feb. 22, 2011 UT SB 96 Alimony Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2011 AZ SCR 1020 Victim Liability Protection Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Feb. 21, 2011 MT SB 279 Permitting Qualified Personnel to Carry Weapons Into the Capital Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
Feb. 19, 2011 MT SB 114 Communication Between Federal Law Enforcement Officers and County Sheriffs Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Feb. 17, 2011 MO SB 3 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2011 NJ S 958 Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Feb. 15, 2011 National HR 514 Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 12)
Feb. 15, 2011 National HR 514 Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 12)
Feb. 15, 2011 National S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
Feb. 15, 2011 MT SB 185 Abolish the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 10, 2011 SC H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2011 UT HB 219 Official State Gun Designation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
Feb. 10, 2011 AZ SB 1086 Tobacco Prohibitions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2011 UT SB 124 Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Feb. 3, 2011 VA SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 2, 2011 AR SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Feb. 2, 2011 AR SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2011 TX SB 14 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Jan. 24, 2011 VA SB 949 Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Jan. 24, 2011 WY SF 47 Firearm Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Jan. 11, 2011 IL SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 25)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/25 SB 180 Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
4/19 HB 2230 Relating to the 9/11 Memorial Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/14 HB 24 Amending Rules of Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 3)
4/12 S Amdt 1 Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19)
4/11 HB 92 Limits Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
4/05 HB 302 Parole Approval Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/05 HB 19 Reduce Punishment for Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
3/30 SB 129 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
3/17 AB 109 Criminal Justice Realignment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/16 SB 1613 Budget Proposal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/14 SB 1467 Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/08 SB 1610 Official State Gun Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/03 SB 1201 Firearms Omnibus Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/02 SB 33 Medical Malpractice Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
3/01 HB 204 Patriotism in the Classroom Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
2/28 HB 29 Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
2/24 SJR 2 Constitutional Amendment Requiring Voter Photo Identification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/23 SB 863 Compensation for Non-Economic Damages Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
2/22 HB 39 Funding for Lawsuit Against Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 19)
2/22 SB 96 Alimony Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
2/22 SCR 1020 Victim Liability Protection Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
2/21 SB 279 Permitting Qualified Personnel to Carry Weapons Into the Capital Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
2/19 SB 114 Communication Between Federal Law Enforcement Officers and County Sheriffs Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
2/17 SB 3 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/17 S 958 Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
2/15 HR 514 Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 12)
2/15 HR 514 Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 12)
2/15 S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
2/15 SB 185 Abolish the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/10 H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 17)
2/10 HB 219 Official State Gun Designation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
2/10 SB 1086 Tobacco Prohibitions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
2/10 SB 124 Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
2/03 SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/02 SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
2/02 SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
1/26 SB 14 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
1/24 SB 949 Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
1/24 SF 47 Firearm Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
1/11 SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 25)

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