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. 9, 2013 CA AB 711 Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Sept. 4, 2013 CA SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
Sept. 4, 2013 CA SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
Aug. 26, 2013 CA AB 721 Amends Transportation of Controlled Substances Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
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)
July 24, 2013 NC HB 392 Authorizes Drug Testing for Work First Program Applicants Conference Report Adopted - House (92 - 21)
July 24, 2013 NC HB 522 Prohibits the Application of Foreign Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 37)
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 23, 2013 National H Amdt 375 Prohibits the Use of Funds to Appoint Chaplains Without an Endorsing Agency Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 173)
July 9, 2013 IL HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 17)
July 9, 2013 IL HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 31)
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 6, 2013 OR SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
July 3, 2013 NC HB 695 Amends Abortion Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12)
July 3, 2013 CA AB 1266 Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
July 1, 2013 OR HB 3194 Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
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)
July 1, 2013 OR SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 27, 2013 NJ S 2723 Amends Firearms Identification Card Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/09 AB 711 Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/04 SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
9/04 SB 649 Classifies Certain Drug Infractions as Misdemeanors Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
8/26 AB 721 Amends Transportation of Controlled Substances Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
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)
7/24 HB 392 Authorizes Drug Testing for Work First Program Applicants Conference Report Adopted - House (92 - 21)
7/24 HB 522 Prohibits the Application of Foreign Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 37)
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)
7/23 H Amdt 375 Prohibits the Use of Funds to Appoint Chaplains Without an Endorsing Agency Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 173)
7/09 HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 17)
7/09 HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 31)
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)
7/06 SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
7/03 HB 695 Amends Abortion Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12)
7/03 AB 1266 Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
7/01 HB 3194 Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
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)
7/01 SB 6 Amends Animal Welfare Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/27 S 2723 Amends Firearms Identification Card Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16)

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