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 17, 2013 IL HB 226 Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections Bill Passed - House (95 - 22)
April 16, 2013 IL HB 2404 Amends Definition of Delinquent Minor Bill Passed - House (89 - 26)
April 11, 2013 IL HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
March 21, 2013 IL SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Bill Passed - House (86 - 28)
March 21, 2013 IL HB 1165 Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions Bill Passed - House (66 - 50)
March 20, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
March 14, 2013 IL SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
March 7, 2013 IL SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - House (65 - 49)
March 1, 2013 IL HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
Feb. 28, 2013 IL SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Jan. 8, 2013 IL SB 957 Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
Dec. 4, 2012 IL SB 681 Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28)
Dec. 4, 2012 IL SB 957 Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 1566 Increases License Plate Fees Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (33 - 21)
May 31, 2012 IL HB 1907 Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 18)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 3442 Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 1849 Expands Gambling Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 26)
May 31, 2012 IL HB 1447 Pension Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
May 31, 2012 IL HB 5440 Establishes a 5 Percent Fee on Satellite TV Companies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 1064 Prohibits Private Security Services in Detention Centers Bill Failed - House (57 - 58)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 1566 Increases License Plate Fees Bill Passed - House (61 - 56)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 2621 Amends the Department of Corrections' Early Release Program Bill Passed - House (68 - 50)
May 30, 2012 IL SB 3442 Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (72 - 44)
May 29, 2012 IL SB 2194 Increases Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
May 29, 2012 IL HB 5290 Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies Bill Failed - Senate (29 - 21)
May 25, 2012 IL SB 2194 Increases Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 52)
May 24, 2012 IL SB 2840 Limits Medicaid Funding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
May 24, 2012 IL SB 2840 Limits Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (94 - 22)
May 23, 2012 IL SB 1849 Expands Gambling Bill Passed - House (69 - 47)
May 22, 2012 IL SB 1808 Authorizes Individuals to Record Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
May 15, 2012 IL HB 3859 Requires Publication of Reduced Tax Rates under the EDGE Program Bill Passed - House (84 - 26)
May 10, 2012 IL SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20)
May 9, 2012 IL SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Bill Passed - House (74 - 43)
March 29, 2012 IL Amendment No. 4 Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 68)
March 29, 2012 IL HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information Bill Passed - House (78 - 30)
March 29, 2012 IL HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 26)
March 29, 2012 IL HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees Bill Failed - House (26 - 75)
March 28, 2012 IL HB 5290 Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies Bill Passed - House (61 - 49)
March 26, 2012 IL HB 5789 Establishes State Park Fees Bill Passed - House (81 - 29)
March 21, 2012 IL HB 3810 Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
March 21, 2012 IL HB 3944 Authorizing the Recording of Police Bill Failed - House (45 - 59)
March 9, 2012 IL HB 5099 Prohibits the Use of Cell Phones Near Emergency Scenes Bill Passed - House (62 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2012 IL HB 1310 Authorizes Certain Businesses to Permit Smoking Bill Failed - House (30 - 82)
Dec. 13, 2011 IL SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
Dec. 13, 2011 IL SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Dec. 12, 2011 IL SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
Dec. 12, 2011 IL SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (81 - 28)
Nov. 29, 2011 IL HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/17 HB 226 Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections Bill Passed - House (95 - 22)
4/16 HB 2404 Amends Definition of Delinquent Minor Bill Passed - House (89 - 26)
4/11 HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
3/21 SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Bill Passed - House (86 - 28)
3/21 HB 1165 Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions Bill Passed - House (66 - 50)
3/20 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
3/14 SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
3/07 SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - House (65 - 49)
3/01 HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
2/28 SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
2/14 SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
2/14 SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
1/08 SB 957 Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
12/04 SB 681 Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28)
12/04 SB 957 Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14)
5/31 SB 1566 Increases License Plate Fees Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (33 - 21)
5/31 HB 1907 Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 18)
5/31 SB 3442 Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15)
5/31 SB 1849 Expands Gambling Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 26)
5/31 HB 1447 Pension Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
5/31 HB 5440 Establishes a 5 Percent Fee on Satellite TV Companies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
5/31 SB 1064 Prohibits Private Security Services in Detention Centers Bill Failed - House (57 - 58)
5/31 SB 1566 Increases License Plate Fees Bill Passed - House (61 - 56)
5/31 SB 2621 Amends the Department of Corrections' Early Release Program Bill Passed - House (68 - 50)
5/30 SB 3442 Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (72 - 44)
5/29 SB 2194 Increases Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
5/29 HB 5290 Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies Bill Failed - Senate (29 - 21)
5/25 SB 2194 Increases Cigarette Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 52)
5/24 SB 2840 Limits Medicaid Funding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
5/24 SB 2840 Limits Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (94 - 22)
5/23 SB 1849 Expands Gambling Bill Passed - House (69 - 47)
5/22 SB 1808 Authorizes Individuals to Record Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
5/15 HB 3859 Requires Publication of Reduced Tax Rates under the EDGE Program Bill Passed - House (84 - 26)
5/10 SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20)
5/09 SB 1313 Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees Bill Passed - House (74 - 43)
3/29 Amendment No. 4 Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 68)
3/29 HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information Bill Passed - House (78 - 30)
3/29 HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 26)
3/29 HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees Bill Failed - House (26 - 75)
3/28 HB 5290 Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies Bill Passed - House (61 - 49)
3/26 HB 5789 Establishes State Park Fees Bill Passed - House (81 - 29)
3/21 HB 3810 Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships Bill Passed - House (79 - 25)
3/21 HB 3944 Authorizing the Recording of Police Bill Failed - House (45 - 59)
3/09 HB 5099 Prohibits the Use of Cell Phones Near Emergency Scenes Bill Passed - House (62 - 38)
2/28 HB 1310 Authorizes Certain Businesses to Permit Smoking Bill Failed - House (30 - 82)
12/13 SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
12/13 SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
12/12 SB 400 Amends State Income Tax Bill Passed - House (67 - 49)
12/12 SB 397 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (81 - 28)
11/29 HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99)

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