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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2009 | ME | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14) |
| June 8, 2009 | ME | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - House (65 - 72) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 53) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| June 4, 2009 | ME | LD 977 | Repealing School District Consolidation | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 55) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| June 1, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| May 27, 2009 | ME | LD 353 | 2009-2011 Biennial Budget | Bill Passed - House (119 - 26) |
| May 20, 2009 | ME | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 13, 2009 | ME | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (82 - 63) |
| May 6, 2009 | ME | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Bill Passed - House (89 - 57) |
| April 30, 2009 | ME | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| April 8, 2009 | ME | LD 67 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 15, 2008 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Veto Override Failed - House (94 - 49) |
| April 15, 2008 | ME | LD 2247 | Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 64) |
| April 15, 2008 | ME | LD 2247 | Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 14, 2008 | ME | LD 2304 | Driver's License Residency Requirement | Bill Passed - House (108 - 29) |
| April 10, 2008 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 7, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
| April 7, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
| April 4, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47) |
| April 4, 2008 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - House (98 - 32) |
| April 2, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46) |
| March 31, 2008 | ME | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| March 31, 2008 | ME | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 27, 2008 | ME | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| March 25, 2008 | ME | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - House (92 - 46) |
| March 20, 2008 | ME | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8) |
| June 21, 2007 | ME | LD 1925 | Tax Cuts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| June 15, 2007 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| June 15, 2007 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - House (101 - 38) |
| June 13, 2007 | ME | LD 1925 | Tax Cuts | Bill Passed - House (87 - 49) |
| June 6, 2007 | ME | LD 203 | Student Voter Registration Bill | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 49) |
| June 6, 2007 | ME | HCA T | Education Reform and School Consolidation | Amendment Adopted - House (114 - 27) |
| May 23, 2007 | ME | LD 1635 | Recreational Bear Trapping Ban | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (82 - 60) |
| April 26, 2007 | ME | LD 805 | Washington County Indian Casino Authorization Act | Veto Override Failed - House (38 - 92) |
| April 24, 2007 | ME | LD 805 | Washington County Indian Casino Authorization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 59) |
| April 11, 2007 | ME | LD 805 | Washington County Indian Casino Authorization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Bill Passed - House (72 - 71) |
| May 22, 2006 | ME | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (75 - 66) |
| May 22, 2006 | ME | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1974 | Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1381 | Teacher Minimum Salary Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | SCA A to LD 1935 | Dirigo Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 2056 | Business Equipment Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (123 - 18) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1381 | Teacher Minimum Salary Increase | Bill Passed - House (76 - 68) |
| April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1974 | 2006-2007 Supplemental Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (82 - 63) |
| April 11, 2006 | ME | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| April 11, 2006 | ME | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (73 - 70) |
| March 30, 2006 | ME | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 63) |
| March 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1912 | Maine House of Representatives Age Requirement | Resolution Failed - House (77 - 65) |
| March 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| March 7, 2006 | ME | LD 1798 | Standardized Testing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 68) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | ME | LD 1798 | Standardized Testing | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Jan. 10, 2006 | ME | LD 1690 | Race Tracks and Casinos in Washington County | Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 77) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/08 | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 6/08 | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 6/05 | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - House (65 - 72) |
| 6/05 | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 53) |
| 6/05 | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 6/05 | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| 6/04 | LD 977 | Repealing School District Consolidation | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| 6/03 | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 6/03 | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 55) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 6/01 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| 5/27 | LD 353 | 2009-2011 Biennial Budget | Bill Passed - House (119 - 26) |
| 5/20 | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/13 | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (82 - 63) |
| 5/06 | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/05 | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Bill Passed - House (89 - 57) |
| 4/30 | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 4/08 | LD 67 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 4/15 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Veto Override Failed - House (94 - 49) |
| 4/15 | LD 2247 | Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 64) |
| 4/15 | LD 2247 | Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/14 | LD 2304 | Driver's License Residency Requirement | Bill Passed - House (108 - 29) |
| 4/10 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 4/07 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
| 4/07 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 4/04 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 47) |
| 4/04 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - House (98 - 32) |
| 4/02 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Rejected - House (97 - 46) |
| 3/31 | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| 3/31 | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/27 | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 3/25 | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - House (92 - 46) |
| 3/20 | LD 1932 | School Consolidation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 6/21 | LD 1925 | Tax Cuts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| 6/15 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 6/15 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - House (101 - 38) |
| 6/13 | LD 1925 | Tax Cuts | Bill Passed - House (87 - 49) |
| 6/06 | LD 203 | Student Voter Registration Bill | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 49) |
| 6/06 | HCA T | Education Reform and School Consolidation | Amendment Adopted - House (114 - 27) |
| 5/23 | LD 1635 | Recreational Bear Trapping Ban | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (82 - 60) |
| 4/26 | LD 805 | Washington County Indian Casino Authorization Act | Veto Override Failed - House (38 - 92) |
| 4/24 | LD 805 | Washington County Indian Casino Authorization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 59) |
| 4/11 | LD 805 | Washington County Indian Casino Authorization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| 5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
| 5/24 | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 5/24 | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Bill Passed - House (72 - 71) |
| 5/22 | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (75 - 66) |
| 5/22 | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 4/28 | LD 1974 | Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/28 | LD 1381 | Teacher Minimum Salary Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 4/28 | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 4/28 | SCA A to LD 1935 | Dirigo Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/28 | LD 2056 | Business Equipment Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (123 - 18) |
| 4/28 | LD 1381 | Teacher Minimum Salary Increase | Bill Passed - House (76 - 68) |
| 4/27 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| 4/27 | LD 1974 | 2006-2007 Supplemental Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (82 - 63) |
| 4/11 | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 4/11 | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (73 - 70) |
| 3/30 | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 63) |
| 3/28 | LD 1912 | Maine House of Representatives Age Requirement | Resolution Failed - House (77 - 65) |
| 3/27 | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 3/27 | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| 3/07 | LD 1798 | Standardized Testing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 68) |
| 2/08 | LD 1798 | Standardized Testing | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 1/10 | LD 1690 | Race Tracks and Casinos in Washington County | Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 77) |