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 14, 2012 MS HB 638 Authorizes Prayer in Schools Bill Passed - House (93 - 24)
March 14, 2012 NY A 9556 Authorizes Casino Gambling Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45)
March 14, 2012 MS HB 488 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (70 - 47)
March 14, 2012 MS HB 488 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (70 - 47)
March 13, 2012 WI SB 237 Amending Sexual Education Guidelines Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
March 13, 2012 WI SB 237 Amending Sexual Education Guidelines Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
March 13, 2012 MI HB 4799 Prohibits Coercing a Woman into Having an Abortion Bill Passed - House (72 - 37)
March 12, 2012 KS HB 2353 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns in Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (70 - 54)
March 12, 2012 ME LD 1603 Authorizes State Employees to Keep Concealed Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (84 - 55)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
March 8, 2012 VA SB 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (66 - 31)
March 8, 2012 NH HB 1654 Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees Bill Failed - House (152 - 171)
March 7, 2012 NH HB 1546 Authorizes Employers to Not Provide Contraception Coverage in Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - House (196 - 150)
March 7, 2012 NH HB 1546 Authorizes Employers to Not Provide Contraception Coverage in Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - House (196 - 150)
March 7, 2012 GA HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (114 - 59)
March 7, 2012 GA HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (124 - 45)
March 6, 2012 AZ HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
March 6, 2012 AZ HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
March 5, 2012 AZ HB 2125 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (45 - 15)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 972 Regulation of Pain Management Clinics Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
March 2, 2012 OR HB 4045 Prohibits Disclosure of the Names of Licensed Concealed Handgun Carriers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 6)
March 2, 2012 FL HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
March 1, 2012 FL HB 1209 Prohibits Courts from Basing Decisions on Foreign Laws Bill Passed - House (92 - 24)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/14 HB 638 Authorizes Prayer in Schools Bill Passed - House (93 - 24)
3/14 A 9556 Authorizes Casino Gambling Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45)
3/14 HB 488 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (70 - 47)
3/14 HB 488 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (70 - 47)
3/13 SB 237 Amending Sexual Education Guidelines Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
3/13 SB 237 Amending Sexual Education Guidelines Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
3/13 HB 4799 Prohibits Coercing a Woman into Having an Abortion Bill Passed - House (72 - 37)
3/12 HB 2353 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns in Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (70 - 54)
3/12 LD 1603 Authorizes State Employees to Keep Concealed Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (84 - 55)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
3/08 SB 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (66 - 31)
3/08 HB 1654 Reduces Sentences of Prisoners Pursuing Degrees Bill Failed - House (152 - 171)
3/07 HB 1546 Authorizes Employers to Not Provide Contraception Coverage in Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - House (196 - 150)
3/07 HB 1546 Authorizes Employers to Not Provide Contraception Coverage in Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - House (196 - 150)
3/07 HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (114 - 59)
3/07 HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (124 - 45)
3/06 HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
3/06 HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
3/05 HB 2125 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (45 - 15)
3/05 HB 972 Regulation of Pain Management Clinics Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
3/05 HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
3/05 HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
3/02 HB 4045 Prohibits Disclosure of the Names of Licensed Concealed Handgun Carriers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 6)
3/02 HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
3/01 HB 1209 Prohibits Courts from Basing Decisions on Foreign Laws Bill Passed - House (92 - 24)

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