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
Sept. 11, 2013 MO HB 278 Prohibits a Public Entity from Limiting the Practice or Celebration of Any Federal Holiday Veto Override Passed - House (114 - 45)
Sept. 11, 2013 CA AB 48 Prohibits Large-Capacity Magazines and Large-Capacity Conversion Kits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
Sept. 11, 2013 CA SB 755 Expands List of Crimes that Disqualify an Individual from Firearm Ownership Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
Sept. 10, 2013 CA AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25)
Sept. 10, 2013 CA AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25)
Sept. 10, 2013 CA SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 10, 2013 CA AB 48 Prohibits Large-Capacity Magazines and Large-Capacity Conversion Kits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2013 CA AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Sept. 9, 2013 CA AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Sept. 4, 2013 CA SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
Sept. 3, 2013 MI HB 4714 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 32)
Aug. 27, 2013 MI HB 4714 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Aug. 26, 2013 CA AB 721 Amends Transportation of Controlled Substances Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Aug. 8, 2013 CA AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
Aug. 2, 2013 National H Amdt 450 Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 185)
Aug. 1, 2013 National HR 2879 Stop Government Abuse Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 176)
July 23, 2013 NC HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
July 23, 2013 NC HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 41)
July 17, 2013 National HR 2668 Fairness for American Families Act Bill Passed - House (251 - 174)
July 17, 2013 National HR 2667 Authority for Mandate Delay Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 161)
July 8, 2013 OR HB 2639 Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
July 8, 2013 CA AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
July 7, 2013 OR SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
July 7, 2013 OR SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
July 6, 2013 OR SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
July 3, 2013 PA HB 1075 Amends Public Welfare Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
July 3, 2013 OR HB 2639 Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property Bill Passed - House (38 - 20)
July 2, 2013 NC SB 132 Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
July 1, 2013 PA HB 1075 Amends Public Welfare Code Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 94)
July 1, 2013 OR HB 3194 Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
July 1, 2013 OR SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 27, 2013 NC SB 132 Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools Bill Passed - House (69 - 42)
June 27, 2013 National S 744 Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32)
June 27, 2013 DE HB 88 Prohibits Certain Individuals with Mental Health Issues from Possessing Firearms Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 13)
June 27, 2013 OR HB 3194 Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
June 24, 2013 NJ S 2842 Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
June 20, 2013 NJ S 2842 Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 19, 2013 ME LD 1240 Establishes Penalties for Unauthorized Private Gun Sales and Requires Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
June 19, 2013 ME LD 1240 Establishes Penalties for Unauthorized Private Gun Sales and Requires Background Checks Bill Passed - House (78 - 71)
June 19, 2013 DE SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
June 18, 2013 DE SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
June 18, 2013 National S Amdt 1197 Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 54)
June 18, 2013 National S Amdt 1228 Requires US-VISIT System to be Established at Every Port of Entry Amendment Rejected - Senate (36 - 58)
June 14, 2013 National H Amdt 168 Establishes Framework for the Closing of the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by December 1, 2014 Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 249)
June 14, 2013 National HR 1960 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Motion Rejected - House (194 - 225)
June 14, 2013 National H Amdt 167 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen Amendment Adopted - House (236 - 188)
June 13, 2013 WA HB 2075 Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
June 13, 2013 MI HB 4714 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (76 - 31)
June 13, 2013 WA HB 2075 Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (53 - 33)
June 12, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/11 HB 278 Prohibits a Public Entity from Limiting the Practice or Celebration of Any Federal Holiday Veto Override Passed - House (114 - 45)
9/11 AB 48 Prohibits Large-Capacity Magazines and Large-Capacity Conversion Kits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
9/11 SB 755 Expands List of Crimes that Disqualify an Individual from Firearm Ownership Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
9/10 AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25)
9/10 AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25)
9/10 SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
9/10 AB 48 Prohibits Large-Capacity Magazines and Large-Capacity Conversion Kits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
9/09 AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
9/09 AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement from Detaining Individuals Solely Based on Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
9/04 SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
9/03 HB 4714 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 32)
8/27 HB 4714 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
8/26 AB 721 Amends Transportation of Controlled Substances Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
8/08 AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
8/02 H Amdt 450 Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 185)
8/01 HR 2879 Stop Government Abuse Act Bill Passed - House (239 - 176)
7/23 HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
7/23 HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 41)
7/17 HR 2668 Fairness for American Families Act Bill Passed - House (251 - 174)
7/17 HR 2667 Authority for Mandate Delay Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 161)
7/08 HB 2639 Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
7/08 AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
7/07 SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
7/07 SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
7/06 SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
7/03 HB 1075 Amends Public Welfare Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
7/03 HB 2639 Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property Bill Passed - House (38 - 20)
7/02 SB 132 Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
7/01 HB 1075 Amends Public Welfare Code Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 94)
7/01 HB 3194 Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
7/01 SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/27 SB 132 Requires Certain Reproductive Health and Safety Education for Schools Bill Passed - House (69 - 42)
6/27 S 744 Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32)
6/27 HB 88 Prohibits Certain Individuals with Mental Health Issues from Possessing Firearms Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 13)
6/27 HB 3194 Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
6/24 S 2842 Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
6/20 S 2842 Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/19 LD 1240 Establishes Penalties for Unauthorized Private Gun Sales and Requires Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
6/19 LD 1240 Establishes Penalties for Unauthorized Private Gun Sales and Requires Background Checks Bill Passed - House (78 - 71)
6/19 SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
6/18 SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
6/18 S Amdt 1197 Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 54)
6/18 S Amdt 1228 Requires US-VISIT System to be Established at Every Port of Entry Amendment Rejected - Senate (36 - 58)
6/14 H Amdt 168 Establishes Framework for the Closing of the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by December 1, 2014 Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 249)
6/14 HR 1960 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Motion Rejected - House (194 - 225)
6/14 H Amdt 167 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen Amendment Adopted - House (236 - 188)
6/13 HB 2075 Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
6/13 HB 4714 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (76 - 31)
6/13 HB 2075 Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (53 - 33)
6/12 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16)

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