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. 14, 2012 ID H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 14, 2012 KY SB 103 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Feb. 14, 2012 KY SB 103 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Feb. 14, 2012 MI SB 751 Photo Identification Requirements for Absentee Voters Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA SB 6 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
Feb. 14, 2012 MI SB 754 Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA HB 1060 Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA HB 1060 Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Feb. 14, 2012 FL SB 2038 Private Correctional Facilities Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21)
Feb. 14, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2012 CO SB 20 Authorizes Legal Immunity to Drug Overdose Reporters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 13, 2012 VA HB 940 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 13, 2012 SD HB 1248 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Handgun Without a Permit Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
Feb. 13, 2012 CO HB 1088 Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force Against Intruders in a Place of Business Bill Passed - House (35 - 26)
Feb. 13, 2012 WA HB 2330 Requires Health Insurers to Cover Abortion Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 13, 2012 NM SB 235 Restricting Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
Feb. 13, 2012 NJ S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
Feb. 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA HB 14 Provides Civil Immunity for the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA HB 14 Provides Civil Immunity for the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
Feb. 9, 2012 MO HB 1104 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (101 - 54)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
Feb. 8, 2012 KY SB 102 Specifies Conditions for Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
Feb. 8, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Feb. 8, 2012 NM HB 103 Increasing Regulation of Driver's Licenses Issued to Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
Feb. 8, 2012 VA HB 947 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Feb. 7, 2012 OR SB 1510 Establishes Marine Reserves Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
Feb. 7, 2012 UT SB 128 Prohibits Minors from Using Cell Phones while Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 7, 2012 UT SB 128 Prohibits Minors from Using Cell Phones while Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 6, 2012 VA SB 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
Feb. 6, 2012 VA SB 323 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 6, 2012 NY S 6087-A Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7)
Feb. 3, 2012 UT HB 253 Removal of Voters from Voter Registration List Bill Passed - House (46 - 27)
Feb. 3, 2012 VA HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
Feb. 3, 2012 VA HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
Feb. 2, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
Feb. 1, 2012 FL SB 98 Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Feb. 1, 2012 VA HB 940 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
Feb. 1, 2012 NH HB 1383 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Non-US Residents Bill Passed - House (250 - 88)
Feb. 1, 2012 VA HB 9 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
Feb. 1, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Jan. 31, 2012 IN SB 89 Authorizes the Instruction of Origin of Life Theories from Multiple Religions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Jan. 31, 2012 IN HB 1007 Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
Jan. 31, 2012 NY S 5560-A Requires DNA Testing of All Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10)
Jan. 30, 2012 SD HCR 1004 Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Jan. 30, 2012 SD HCR 1004 Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/14 H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/14 SB 103 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
2/14 SB 103 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
2/14 SB 751 Photo Identification Requirements for Absentee Voters Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
2/14 SB 6 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
2/14 SB 754 Requires Photo Identification for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
2/14 HB 1060 Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
2/14 HB 1060 Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
2/14 SB 2038 Private Correctional Facilities Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21)
2/14 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/14 SB 20 Authorizes Legal Immunity to Drug Overdose Reporters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/13 HB 940 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/13 HB 1248 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Handgun Without a Permit Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
2/13 HB 1088 Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force Against Intruders in a Place of Business Bill Passed - House (35 - 26)
2/13 HB 2330 Requires Health Insurers to Cover Abortion Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/13 SB 235 Restricting Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
2/13 S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/09 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
2/09 HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
2/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
2/09 HB 14 Provides Civil Immunity for the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
2/09 HB 14 Provides Civil Immunity for the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
2/09 HB 1104 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (101 - 54)
2/09 SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/09 SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/09 HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
2/08 SB 102 Specifies Conditions for Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
2/08 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
2/08 HB 103 Increasing Regulation of Driver's Licenses Issued to Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
2/08 HB 947 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
2/07 SB 1510 Establishes Marine Reserves Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
2/07 SB 128 Prohibits Minors from Using Cell Phones while Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/07 SB 128 Prohibits Minors from Using Cell Phones while Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/06 SB 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
2/06 SB 323 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/06 S 6087-A Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7)
2/03 HB 253 Removal of Voters from Voter Registration List Bill Passed - House (46 - 27)
2/03 HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
2/03 HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
2/02 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
2/01 SB 98 Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
2/01 HB 940 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
2/01 HB 1383 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Non-US Residents Bill Passed - House (250 - 88)
2/01 HB 9 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
2/01 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
1/31 SB 89 Authorizes the Instruction of Origin of Life Theories from Multiple Religions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
1/31 HB 1007 Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
1/31 S 5560-A Requires DNA Testing of All Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10)
1/30 HCR 1004 Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
1/30 HCR 1004 Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10)

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