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 7, 2013 MO HJR 4 Increases Representative Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - House (121 - 31)
March 7, 2013 MO HJR 4 Increases Representative Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - House (121 - 31)
March 7, 2013 MO HJR 4 Increases Representative Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - House (121 - 31)
March 7, 2013 AZ HB 2282 Requires a Primary During Recall Elections Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
March 6, 2013 MS SB 2687 Prohibits Local Government Management of Nutrition Labeling Bill Passed - House (92 - 26)
March 6, 2013 WI SB 2 Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
March 6, 2013 WI SB 2 Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
March 6, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - House (74 - 22)
March 6, 2013 KY HB 2 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
March 6, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - House (74 - 22)
March 6, 2013 KY HB 2 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
March 5, 2013 AR HB 1041 Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget Bill Failed - House (49 - 47)
March 4, 2013 NC SB 10 Authorizes the Reorganization of State Boards and Commissions Bill Passed - House (71 - 43)
March 4, 2013 MN HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (72 - 58)
March 4, 2013 GA HB 125 Amends State Immigration Policy Bill Passed - House (116 - 49)
March 4, 2013 AZ HB 2280 Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Employee Pay Requirements Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
March 4, 2013 NM SB 416 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
March 1, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
March 1, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
March 1, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 63 Authorizes Secretary of State to Prosecute Election Fraud Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 28, 2013 National H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
Feb. 28, 2013 NM HB 168 Establishes Health Insurance Exchange Bill Failed - House (30 - 39)
Feb. 28, 2013 IL SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2013 NM HJR 10 Extends Education Disbursements from the Land Grant Fund Joint Resolution Passed - House (36 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2013 OK HB 2195 Limits the Issuance of Bonds Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
Feb. 28, 2013 MI HB 4111 Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (78 - 31)
Feb. 28, 2013 MI HB 4111 Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (78 - 31)
Feb. 28, 2013 MO HJR 11 Establishes the Constitutional Right to Farm Joint Resolution Passed - House (110 - 41)
Feb. 28, 2013 AZ HB 2593 Amends Campaign Finance Limits Bill Passed - House (32 - 23)
Feb. 27, 2013 WY HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
Feb. 27, 2013 ND HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 27, 2013 ND HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 27, 2013 NM HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2013 NC SB 76 Amends Hydraulic Fracturing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
Feb. 26, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41)
Feb. 26, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27)
Feb. 26, 2013 WY HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2013 UT SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 26, 2013 MT HB 229 Amends Campaign Finance Limits Bill Passed - House (58 - 40)
Feb. 26, 2013 IN SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
Feb. 25, 2013 MT HB 396 Requires County Board Approval for Bison Relocation Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
Feb. 25, 2013 AK HB 69 Exempts Firearms from Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 5)
Feb. 25, 2013 ID SJM 101 Urges the Enforcement of Federal Drug-Free Policy Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21)
Feb. 25, 2013 IN HB 1011 Authorizes a Metropolitan Transit District Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
Feb. 25, 2013 TN HB 553 Prohibits War Monuments from Being Renamed Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
Feb. 25, 2013 TN HB 553 Prohibits War Monuments from Being Renamed Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2013 KY SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2013 KY SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/07 HJR 4 Increases Representative Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - House (121 - 31)
3/07 HJR 4 Increases Representative Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - House (121 - 31)
3/07 HJR 4 Increases Representative Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - House (121 - 31)
3/07 HB 2282 Requires a Primary During Recall Elections Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
3/06 SB 2687 Prohibits Local Government Management of Nutrition Labeling Bill Passed - House (92 - 26)
3/06 SB 2 Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
3/06 SB 2 Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
3/06 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - House (74 - 22)
3/06 HB 2 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
3/06 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - House (74 - 22)
3/06 HB 2 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
3/05 HB 1041 Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget Bill Failed - House (49 - 47)
3/04 SB 10 Authorizes the Reorganization of State Boards and Commissions Bill Passed - House (71 - 43)
3/04 HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (72 - 58)
3/04 HB 125 Amends State Immigration Policy Bill Passed - House (116 - 49)
3/04 HB 2280 Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Employee Pay Requirements Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
3/04 SB 416 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
3/01 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
3/01 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
3/01 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
2/28 SB 63 Authorizes Secretary of State to Prosecute Election Fraud Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/28 H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
2/28 HB 168 Establishes Health Insurance Exchange Bill Failed - House (30 - 39)
2/28 SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
2/28 HJR 10 Extends Education Disbursements from the Land Grant Fund Joint Resolution Passed - House (36 - 33)
2/28 HB 2195 Limits the Issuance of Bonds Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
2/28 HB 4111 Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (78 - 31)
2/28 HB 4111 Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (78 - 31)
2/28 HJR 11 Establishes the Constitutional Right to Farm Joint Resolution Passed - House (110 - 41)
2/28 HB 2593 Amends Campaign Finance Limits Bill Passed - House (32 - 23)
2/27 HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
2/27 HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/27 HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/27 HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
2/27 SB 76 Amends Hydraulic Fracturing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
2/26 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41)
2/26 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27)
2/26 HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/26 SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/26 HB 229 Amends Campaign Finance Limits Bill Passed - House (58 - 40)
2/26 SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
2/25 HB 396 Requires County Board Approval for Bison Relocation Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
2/25 HB 69 Exempts Firearms from Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 5)
2/25 SJM 101 Urges the Enforcement of Federal Drug-Free Policy Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21)
2/25 HB 1011 Authorizes a Metropolitan Transit District Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
2/25 HB 553 Prohibits War Monuments from Being Renamed Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
2/25 HB 553 Prohibits War Monuments from Being Renamed Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
2/22 SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/22 SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)

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