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, 2012 RI S 2322 Prohibits The Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 13, 2012 MI HB 4799 Prohibits Coercing a Woman into Having an Abortion Bill Passed - House (72 - 37)
March 12, 2012 ID HCR 45 Encourages the Establishment of Private Healthcare Exchanges Resolution Passed - House (49 - 13)
March 12, 2012 KS HB 2353 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns in Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (70 - 54)
March 9, 2012 IN HB 1149 Prohibits Smoking in Public Places Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 29)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 8, 2012 UT SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7)
March 8, 2012 WY SF 27 Public Meetings Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 3)
March 8, 2012 WY SF 25 Amends Public Records Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 8)
March 8, 2012 UT SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27)
March 8, 2012 WY SF 25 Amends Public Records Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 8)
March 8, 2012 NH HB 1654 Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees Bill Failed - House (152 - 171)
March 8, 2012 NH HB 1654 Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees Bill Failed - House (152 - 171)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
March 7, 2012 GA SB 312 Require Development Activities for Certain Public Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14)
March 7, 2012 GA HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (124 - 45)
March 7, 2012 GA HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (124 - 45)
March 7, 2012 GA SB 438 Prohibits State Employee Insurance Coverage of Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/13 S 2322 Prohibits The Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/13 HB 4799 Prohibits Coercing a Woman into Having an Abortion Bill Passed - House (72 - 37)
3/12 HCR 45 Encourages the Establishment of Private Healthcare Exchanges Resolution Passed - House (49 - 13)
3/12 HB 2353 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns in Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (70 - 54)
3/09 HB 1149 Prohibits Smoking in Public Places Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
3/09 HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 29)
3/09 HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/09 HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/08 SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7)
3/08 SF 27 Public Meetings Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 3)
3/08 SF 25 Amends Public Records Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 8)
3/08 SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27)
3/08 SF 25 Amends Public Records Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 8)
3/08 HB 1654 Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees Bill Failed - House (152 - 171)
3/08 HB 1654 Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees Bill Failed - House (152 - 171)
3/07 HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
3/07 HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
3/07 SB 312 Require Development Activities for Certain Public Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14)
3/07 HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (124 - 45)
3/07 HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (124 - 45)
3/07 SB 438 Prohibits State Employee Insurance Coverage of Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18)

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