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
April 16, 2013 OR SB 835 Prohibits Horse Tripping in Rodeos Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
April 15, 2013 WA SB 5329 Requires Superintendent to Take Action in Certain Schools Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
April 15, 2013 IN SB 225 Establishes Procedures to Appoint Constitutional Convention Delegates Bill Passed - House (64 - 29)
April 15, 2013 IN SB 224 Establishes the Duties of Constitutional Convention Delegates Bill Passed - House (64 - 28)
April 12, 2013 WV SB 371 Amends the State Prison System Bill Passed - House (81 - 17)
April 12, 2013 National HR 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 209)
April 11, 2013 IL HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
April 11, 2013 IL HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
April 9, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 9, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 9, 2013 AR HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 9, 2013 AR HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 9, 2013 AZ HB 2593 Amends Campaign Finance Limits Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 9, 2013 AR HJR 1009 Amends Campaign Contribution Laws Joint Resolution Passed - House (71 - 12)
April 9, 2013 AR HJR 1009 Amends Campaign Contribution Laws Joint Resolution Passed - House (71 - 12)
April 8, 2013 AZ HB 2477 Requires Photo Radar Systems To Be Necessary for Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 16)
April 8, 2013 MD HB 224 Amends Voting Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 40)
April 8, 2013 MD HB 224 Amends Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
April 8, 2013 AZ SB 1439 Authorizes the Use of Gold and Silver as Legal Tender Bill Passed - House (36 - 22)
April 8, 2013 MT HB 30 Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
April 6, 2013 MD HB 1107 Amends Prince George's County School System Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 47)
April 5, 2013 KS SB 102 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 44)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
April 5, 2013 KS SB 102 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 24)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 32)
April 4, 2013 MT HB 217 Exempts Religious Organizations from Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 41)
April 4, 2013 OR HB 2870 Authorizes Counties to Tax Cigarette Sales Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
April 4, 2013 CA AB 131 Amends Voter Registration Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
April 4, 2013 MO SB 265 Prohibits Compliance with United Nations Agenda 21 Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 3, 2013 WV HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
April 3, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 3, 2013 WV HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
April 2, 2013 MS HB 1009 Authorizes Department of Human Services to Hire Private Contractors Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 56)
April 2, 2013 MS HB 1009 Authorizes Department of Human Services to Hire Private Contractors Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 56)
April 2, 2013 MS SB 2199 Requires Appointed Superintendents Conference Report Rejected - House (52 - 66)
April 2, 2013 AZ HB 2477 Requires Photo Radar Systems To Be Necessary for Public Safety Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
April 2, 2013 KS HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
April 1, 2013 AR SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - House (52 - 45)
April 1, 2013 NV SJR 15 Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
March 28, 2013 MT HB 217 Exempts Religious Organizations from Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
March 27, 2013 AR SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 27, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 13 Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days Bill Passed - House (50 - 46)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 13 Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
March 26, 2013 OR HB 2988 Reduces Minimum Voter Registration Age to 16 Bill Passed - House (35 - 25)
March 25, 2013 IN SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
March 25, 2013 MD HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
March 25, 2013 OR SB 602 Prohibits Motorized Boats and Seaplanes on Waldo Lake Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 22, 2013 ID S 1108 Increases Petition Signature Requirements Bill Passed - House (45 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/16 SB 835 Prohibits Horse Tripping in Rodeos Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
4/15 SB 5329 Requires Superintendent to Take Action in Certain Schools Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
4/15 SB 225 Establishes Procedures to Appoint Constitutional Convention Delegates Bill Passed - House (64 - 29)
4/15 SB 224 Establishes the Duties of Constitutional Convention Delegates Bill Passed - House (64 - 28)
4/12 SB 371 Amends the State Prison System Bill Passed - House (81 - 17)
4/12 HR 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 209)
4/11 HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
4/11 HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
4/09 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/09 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/09 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/09 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/09 HB 2593 Amends Campaign Finance Limits Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/09 HJR 1009 Amends Campaign Contribution Laws Joint Resolution Passed - House (71 - 12)
4/09 HJR 1009 Amends Campaign Contribution Laws Joint Resolution Passed - House (71 - 12)
4/08 HB 2477 Requires Photo Radar Systems To Be Necessary for Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 16)
4/08 HB 224 Amends Voting Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 40)
4/08 HB 224 Amends Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
4/08 SB 1439 Authorizes the Use of Gold and Silver as Legal Tender Bill Passed - House (36 - 22)
4/08 HB 30 Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
4/06 HB 1107 Amends Prince George's County School System Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 47)
4/05 SB 102 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
4/05 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 44)
4/05 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
4/05 SB 102 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 24)
4/05 HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 32)
4/04 HB 217 Exempts Religious Organizations from Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 41)
4/04 HB 2870 Authorizes Counties to Tax Cigarette Sales Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
4/04 AB 131 Amends Voter Registration Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
4/04 SB 265 Prohibits Compliance with United Nations Agenda 21 Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/03 HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
4/03 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/03 HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
4/02 HB 1009 Authorizes Department of Human Services to Hire Private Contractors Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 56)
4/02 HB 1009 Authorizes Department of Human Services to Hire Private Contractors Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 56)
4/02 SB 2199 Requires Appointed Superintendents Conference Report Rejected - House (52 - 66)
4/02 HB 2477 Requires Photo Radar Systems To Be Necessary for Public Safety Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
4/02 HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
4/01 SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - House (52 - 45)
4/01 SJR 15 Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
3/28 HB 217 Exempts Religious Organizations from Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
3/27 SB 2 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/27 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/26 SB 13 Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days Bill Passed - House (50 - 46)
3/26 SB 13 Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
3/26 HB 2988 Reduces Minimum Voter Registration Age to 16 Bill Passed - House (35 - 25)
3/25 SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
3/25 HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
3/25 SB 602 Prohibits Motorized Boats and Seaplanes on Waldo Lake Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/22 S 1108 Increases Petition Signature Requirements Bill Passed - House (45 - 21)

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