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
Nov. 29, 2011 IL HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18)
Nov. 10, 2011 IL SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
Nov. 9, 2011 IL SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents Bill Failed - House (70 - 43)
Nov. 9, 2011 IL SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities Bill Passed - House (64 - 50)
Nov. 9, 2011 IL SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents Bill Passed - House (74 - 36)
Oct. 27, 2011 IL SB 1701 Legal Immunity for Individuals Seeking Treatment for Drug Overdose Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
Oct. 26, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 42)
Oct. 26, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
Oct. 26, 2011 IL SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 24)
May 31, 2011 IL HB 1490 Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 45)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 744 Authorizes Gambling Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24)
May 31, 2011 IL HB 1723 Amending The Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 44)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 1178 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25)
May 31, 2011 IL HB 1698 Amends Workers' Compensation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 744 Authorizes Gambling Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Bill Passed - House (67 - 47)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
May 28, 2011 IL HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 40)
May 27, 2011 IL SB 1177 General Assembly Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22)
May 26, 2011 IL HB 1490 Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 8)
May 26, 2011 IL HB 1600 Limits Artificial Trans Fats Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 40)
May 20, 2011 IL HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
May 4, 2011 IL SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
April 13, 2011 IL HB 203 Limit on Sale of Firearms Within a Certain Time Period Bill Failed - House (47 - 68)
April 13, 2011 IL HB 1600 Limits Artificial Trans Fats Bill Passed - House (73 - 43)
April 12, 2011 IL HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
April 12, 2011 IL HB 3499 Firearm Waiting Period Exemptions Bill Passed - House (78 - 34)
Jan. 11, 2011 IL SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 29)
Jan. 11, 2011 IL SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 25)
Jan. 11, 2011 IL SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code Bill Passed - House (60 - 57)
Jan. 10, 2011 IL SB 3644 Labor Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 49)
Jan. 6, 2011 IL SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Failed - House (56 - 60)
Jan. 6, 2011 IL SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty Bill Passed - House (60 - 54)
Jan. 4, 2011 IL SB 3976 Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
Dec. 1, 2010 IL SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 24)
Nov. 30, 2010 IL SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
May 27, 2010 IL SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
May 27, 2010 IL SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23)
May 26, 2010 IL HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 26)
May 25, 2010 IL HB 859 2010-2011 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 50)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
May 7, 2010 IL HB 859 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26)
May 7, 2010 IL SB 3739 Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program Bill Passed - House (87 - 26)
May 7, 2010 IL SB 1118 Business Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - House (73 - 36)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Bill Passed - House (87 - 28)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - House (65 - 51)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 9)
May 5, 2010 IL HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 11)
May 4, 2010 IL HB 2360 Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
April 29, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Bill Failed - House (69 - 47)
April 27, 2010 IL SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 41)
April 21, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
March 26, 2010 IL HB 5109 Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office Bill Passed - House (85 - 23)
March 25, 2010 IL SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 24, 2010 IL SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 22, 2010 IL HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week Bill Passed - House (81 - 21)
March 18, 2010 IL SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
March 18, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
March 3, 2010 IL HB 4685 Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (80 - 36)
March 3, 2010 IL HB 2360 Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan Bill Passed - House (73 - 38)
Feb. 24, 2010 IL HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
Jan. 13, 2010 IL HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30)
Jan. 13, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Jan. 12, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
Jan. 12, 2010 IL HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
Oct. 15, 2009 IL HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Bill Passed - House (88 - 24)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 22)
June 30, 2009 IL SB 415 Bond Approval Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (32 - 21)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
May 31, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 2252 Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses Bill Failed - House (42 - 74)
May 30, 2009 IL HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
May 30, 2009 IL SB 744 New Casino Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
May 30, 2009 IL HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6)
May 28, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
May 27, 2009 IL SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 30)
May 27, 2009 IL SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
May 22, 2009 IL HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30)
May 20, 2009 IL HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 12)
May 19, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 1, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
April 1, 2009 IL HB Text Messaging while Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (89 - 27)
April 1, 2009 IL HB 71 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (89 - 27)
March 18, 2009 IL HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
Jan. 14, 2009 IL HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
Jan. 9, 2009 IL HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11)
Aug. 13, 2008 IL HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/29 HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18)
11/10 SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
11/09 SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents Bill Failed - House (70 - 43)
11/09 SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities Bill Passed - House (64 - 50)
11/09 SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents Bill Passed - House (74 - 36)
10/27 SB 1701 Legal Immunity for Individuals Seeking Treatment for Drug Overdose Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
10/26 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 42)
10/26 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
10/26 SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 24)
5/31 HB 1490 Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 45)
5/31 SB 744 Authorizes Gambling Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
5/31 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24)
5/31 HB 1723 Amending The Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 44)
5/31 SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24)
5/31 SB 1178 Congressional Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25)
5/31 HB 1698 Amends Workers' Compensation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43)
5/30 SB 744 Authorizes Gambling Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
5/30 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Bill Passed - House (67 - 47)
5/30 SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
5/30 SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - House (61 - 53)
5/28 HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 40)
5/27 SB 1177 General Assembly Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22)
5/26 HB 1490 Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 8)
5/26 HB 1600 Limits Artificial Trans Fats Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 40)
5/20 HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
5/04 SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
4/13 HB 203 Limit on Sale of Firearms Within a Certain Time Period Bill Failed - House (47 - 68)
4/13 HB 1600 Limits Artificial Trans Fats Bill Passed - House (73 - 43)
4/12 HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
4/12 HB 3499 Firearm Waiting Period Exemptions Bill Passed - House (78 - 34)
1/11 SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 29)
1/11 SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 25)
1/11 SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code Bill Passed - House (60 - 57)
1/10 SB 3644 Labor Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 49)
1/06 SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Failed - House (56 - 60)
1/06 SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty Bill Passed - House (60 - 54)
1/04 SB 3976 Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
12/01 SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 24)
11/30 SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
5/27 SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
5/27 SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23)
5/26 HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 26)
5/25 HB 859 2010-2011 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 50)
5/25 SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
5/25 SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
5/07 HB 859 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26)
5/07 SB 3739 Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program Bill Passed - House (87 - 26)
5/07 SB 1118 Business Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - House (73 - 36)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Bill Passed - House (87 - 28)
5/06 SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - House (65 - 51)
5/05 SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
5/05 SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 9)
5/05 HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 11)
5/04 HB 2360 Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
4/29 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Bill Failed - House (69 - 47)
4/27 SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 41)
4/21 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
3/26 HB 5109 Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office Bill Passed - House (85 - 23)
3/25 SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/24 SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/22 HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week Bill Passed - House (81 - 21)
3/18 SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
3/18 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
3/03 HB 4685 Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (80 - 36)
3/03 HB 2360 Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan Bill Passed - House (73 - 38)
2/24 HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
1/13 HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30)
1/13 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
1/12 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
1/12 HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
10/15 HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1)
7/15 SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12)
7/15 SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
7/15 SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Bill Passed - House (88 - 24)
7/15 SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 22)
6/30 SB 415 Bond Approval Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (32 - 21)
5/31 SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
5/31 SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
5/31 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46)
5/31 SB 2252 Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses Bill Failed - House (42 - 74)
5/30 HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
5/30 SB 744 New Casino Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
5/30 HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6)
5/28 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
5/27 SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 30)
5/27 SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
5/22 HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30)
5/20 HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 12)
5/19 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/01 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
4/01 HB Text Messaging while Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (89 - 27)
4/01 HB 71 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (89 - 27)
3/18 HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
1/14 HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
1/09 HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
8/19 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
8/19 HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11)
8/13 HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12)

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