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 27, 2015 GA SB 139 Prohibits Ban on Auxiliary Containers Bill Failed - House (67 - 85)
March 26, 2015 NH SB 179 Amends Residency Requirement for Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
March 26, 2015 NJ A 4326 Requires Governor to Forecast State Revenue Bill Passed - House (42 - 31)
March 24, 2015 ND HCR 3015 Requests a Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 20, 2015 ID HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
March 19, 2015 MO HB 722 Prohibits Restrictions on Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (114 - 38)
March 19, 2015 IA SF 331 Authorizes Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 18, 2015 MO HB 63 Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 45)
March 18, 2015 IA SF 437 Authorizes Employees to Take Unpaid Leave to Participate in a Presidential Precinct Caucus Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 17, 2015 NM HB 340 Amends Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (37 - 29)
March 16, 2015 NJ S 2181 Increases Oversight of the Port Authority Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
March 16, 2015 ID S 1092 Prohibits Local Knife Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 12, 2015 MO HB 63 Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
March 12, 2015 MT HB 203 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
March 12, 2015 NC SB 181 Requires the Redistricting of Wake County Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 11, 2015 AZ SCR 1001 Amends Citizens Clean Elections Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 11, 2015 AZ SCR 1001 Amends Citizens Clean Elections Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 11, 2015 OK SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 11, 2015 OK SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 11, 2015 OK SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 11, 2015 AZ SB 1330 Prohibits State Employees from Enforcing Federal Firearm Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 11, 2015 OK HB 2178 Amends Local Municipalities' Ability to Regulate Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - House (74 - 23)
March 11, 2015 AK SB 6 Exempts State from Daylight Saving Time Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
March 11, 2015 OK SB 809 Amends Local Municipalities' Ability to Regulate Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
March 10, 2015 SD SB 69 Amends Procedures for Elections and Election Petitions Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
March 10, 2015 NM HB 366 Authorizes State Regulation of Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
March 10, 2015 AZ HB 2368 Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
March 9, 2015 KY HB 203 Increases Limit on Individual Campaign Donations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
March 6, 2015 AR HJR 1003 Requests a Constitutional Convention Bill Passed - House (52 - 33)
March 6, 2015 AZ SB 1340 Requires Photo Identification for Early Ballot Volunteers Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
March 5, 2015 OR HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 4, 2015 WY SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
March 3, 2015 OK SB 315 Amends Absentee Ballot Application Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2015 KS SB 171 Amends Voting Schedule Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 25, 2015 AZ HB 2608 Amends Signature Requirements for Political Candidate Nominations Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
Feb. 24, 2015 ND HB 1157 Authorizes Public Officials to Possess Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Failed - House (45 - 47)
Feb. 23, 2015 NJ S 2430 Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2015 OR HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO HB 30 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 37)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO SB 104 Establishes Deadline for Changes to Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
Feb. 19, 2015 MO HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
Feb. 19, 2015 AR HB 1355 Authorizes Local Control of Fluoride in Water Systems Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
Feb. 13, 2015 AR SB 202 Prohibits New Classes of Protected Individuals Bill Passed - House (58 - 21)
Feb. 11, 2015 ND HB 1259 Requires Performance Audits of Certain State Agencies Bill Failed - House (22 - 67)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2389 Authorizes Joining Interstate Compact for a Balanced Federal Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 10, 2015 WV HB 2217 Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 34)
Feb. 9, 2015 MT HB 203 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/27 SB 139 Prohibits Ban on Auxiliary Containers Bill Failed - House (67 - 85)
3/26 SB 179 Amends Residency Requirement for Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
3/26 A 4326 Requires Governor to Forecast State Revenue Bill Passed - House (42 - 31)
3/24 HCR 3015 Requests a Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/20 HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
3/19 HB 722 Prohibits Restrictions on Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (114 - 38)
3/19 SF 331 Authorizes Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/18 HB 63 Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 45)
3/18 SF 437 Authorizes Employees to Take Unpaid Leave to Participate in a Presidential Precinct Caucus Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/17 HB 340 Amends Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (37 - 29)
3/16 S 2181 Increases Oversight of the Port Authority Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14)
3/16 S 1092 Prohibits Local Knife Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/12 HB 63 Prohibits Superintendents from Serving on Certain School Boards Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
3/12 HB 203 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
3/12 SB 181 Requires the Redistricting of Wake County Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/11 SCR 1001 Amends Citizens Clean Elections Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/11 SCR 1001 Amends Citizens Clean Elections Fund Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/11 SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/11 SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/11 SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/11 SB 1330 Prohibits State Employees from Enforcing Federal Firearm Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/11 HB 2178 Amends Local Municipalities' Ability to Regulate Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - House (74 - 23)
3/11 SB 6 Exempts State from Daylight Saving Time Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
3/11 SB 809 Amends Local Municipalities' Ability to Regulate Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
3/10 SB 69 Amends Procedures for Elections and Election Petitions Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
3/10 HB 366 Authorizes State Regulation of Oil and Gas Production Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
3/10 HB 2368 Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
3/09 HB 203 Increases Limit on Individual Campaign Donations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
3/06 HJR 1003 Requests a Constitutional Convention Bill Passed - House (52 - 33)
3/06 SB 1340 Requires Photo Identification for Early Ballot Volunteers Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
3/05 HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/04 SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
3/03 SB 315 Amends Absentee Ballot Application Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
2/26 SB 171 Amends Voting Schedule Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/25 HB 2608 Amends Signature Requirements for Political Candidate Nominations Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
2/24 HB 1157 Authorizes Public Officials to Possess Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Failed - House (45 - 47)
2/23 S 2430 Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
2/20 HB 2177 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
2/19 HB 30 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 37)
2/19 SB 104 Establishes Deadline for Changes to Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
2/19 HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
2/19 HJR 1 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (118 - 39)
2/19 HB 1355 Authorizes Local Control of Fluoride in Water Systems Bill Passed - House (60 - 34)
2/13 SB 202 Prohibits New Classes of Protected Individuals Bill Passed - House (58 - 21)
2/11 HB 1259 Requires Performance Audits of Certain State Agencies Bill Failed - House (22 - 67)
2/11 SB 2389 Authorizes Joining Interstate Compact for a Balanced Federal Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/10 HB 2217 Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 34)
2/09 HB 203 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)

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