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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | HB 610 | Expands the Sale of Alcohol in Seating Areas of Certain Stadiums and Ballparks | Bill Passed - House (73 - 45) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 3, 2013 | NC | SB 306 | Repeals the Racial Justice Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 26, 2013 | NC | HB 17 | Prohibits Disclosure of Concealed Firearm Permit Information | Bill Passed - House (97 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | NC | HB 66 | Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities | Bill Passed - House (98 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | NC | HB 66 | Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities | Bill Passed - House (98 - 20) |
| June 5, 2012 | NC | SB 582 | Expands Casino Gambling | Bill Passed - House (68 - 49) |
| Sept. 13, 2011 | NC | SB 514 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| Sept. 12, 2011 | NC | SB 514 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Bill Passed - House (75 - 42) |
| March 30, 2011 | NC | HB 111 | Concealed Handguns in Restaurants and State Parks | Bill Passed - House (74 - 42) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| July 8, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 80 | Banning Electronic Sweepstakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| June 28, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Aug. 7, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| July 20, 2009 | NC | HB 1289 | Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| July 6, 2009 | NC | SB 870 | Making General Statutes Gender Neutral | Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33) |
| June 24, 2009 | NC | HB 442 | Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| June 24, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| June 23, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| June 23, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| May 14, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| May 12, 2009 | NC | HB 1289 | Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites | Bill Passed - House (84 - 29) |
| May 11, 2009 | NC | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| May 6, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| May 6, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| April 16, 2009 | NC | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| April 16, 2009 | NC | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| April 2, 2009 | NC | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| April 1, 2009 | NC | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
| July 17, 2008 | NC | HB 2340 | Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| July 17, 2008 | NC | HB 2340 | Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| July 17, 2008 | NC | HB 2690 | Durham County Meals Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| July 8, 2008 | NC | HB 2690 | Durham County Meals Tax | Bill Passed - House (60 - 59) |
| July 2, 2008 | NC | SB 1988 | Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3) |
| July 2, 2008 | NC | SB 1988 | Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/07 | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| 5/07 | HB 610 | Expands the Sale of Alcohol in Seating Areas of Certain Stadiums and Ballparks | Bill Passed - House (73 - 45) |
| 4/25 | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 4/25 | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 4/25 | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 4/03 | SB 306 | Repeals the Racial Justice Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 3/26 | HB 17 | Prohibits Disclosure of Concealed Firearm Permit Information | Bill Passed - House (97 - 20) |
| 2/13 | HB 66 | Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities | Bill Passed - House (98 - 20) |
| 2/13 | HB 66 | Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities | Bill Passed - House (98 - 20) |
| 6/05 | SB 582 | Expands Casino Gambling | Bill Passed - House (68 - 49) |
| 9/13 | SB 514 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 9/12 | SB 514 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Bill Passed - House (75 - 42) |
| 3/30 | HB 111 | Concealed Handguns in Restaurants and State Parks | Bill Passed - House (74 - 42) |
| 7/10 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| 7/10 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| 7/08 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| 7/07 | HB 80 | Banning Electronic Sweepstakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| 7/07 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13) |
| 7/07 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| 7/07 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| 6/28 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 8/07 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| 8/06 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| 8/05 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| 8/05 | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| 7/20 | HB 1289 | Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| 7/06 | SB 870 | Making General Statutes Gender Neutral | Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33) |
| 6/24 | HB 442 | Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 6/24 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| 6/23 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| 6/23 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| 5/14 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 5/12 | HB 1289 | Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites | Bill Passed - House (84 - 29) |
| 5/11 | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 5/06 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 5/06 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 4/16 | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| 4/16 | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| 4/02 | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| 4/01 | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
| 7/17 | HB 2340 | Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| 7/17 | HB 2340 | Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| 7/17 | HB 2690 | Durham County Meals Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 7/08 | HB 2690 | Durham County Meals Tax | Bill Passed - House (60 - 59) |
| 7/02 | SB 1988 | Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3) |
| 7/02 | SB 1988 | Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3) |