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 11, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 20, 2006 CO SB 81 Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
April 20, 2006 MN SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
April 25, 2006 OK HCS HB 2615 "Stand Your Ground Law" Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
April 25, 2006 OK HCS HB 2615 "Stand Your Ground Law" Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
April 26, 2006 LA SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 27, 2006 CA SCR 113 The Great American Boycott 2006 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 3, 2006 CO HB 1315 Juvenile Criminal Parole Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 4, 2006 CO HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 16, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 24, 2006 MI Sub for HB 5192 Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
Jan. 23, 2006 SD SB 1 Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Jan. 23, 2006 SD SB 1 Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Jan. 24, 2006 IN SB 88 Seat Belt Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Jan. 25, 2006 VA SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Jan. 27, 2006 WA Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
Jan. 27, 2006 MS HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Jan. 27, 2006 MS HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Jan. 31, 2006 VA SB 362 Death Penalty Age Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
Jan. 31, 2006 NM SB 258 Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
Jan. 31, 2006 NM SB 258 Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
Jan. 31, 2006 IN SB 145 Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA SB 253 Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 7, 2006 MS SB 2511 Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Feb. 7, 2006 MS SB 2511 Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2006 KS SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Feb. 9, 2006 KS SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Feb. 9, 2006 KS SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2006 NM SB 216 Criminal DNA Collection Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
Feb. 14, 2006 ID S 1327 Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 14, 2006 NM HB 211 Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
Feb. 15, 2006 ID HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 22, 2006 SD HB 1215 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2006 WY SF 36 Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
Feb. 23, 2006 UT 1SSB 97 Student Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2006 IN HB 1028 Firearms and Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Feb. 28, 2006 CO HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 28, 2006 ID S 1337 Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 28, 2006 ID S 1337 Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
March 1, 2006 UT HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 1, 2006 UT HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 2, 2006 IN HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 2, 2006 IN HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 2, 2006 GA SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
March 2, 2006 GA SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
March 2, 2006 GA SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/11 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/20 SB 81 Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
4/20 SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
4/25 HCS HB 2615 "Stand Your Ground Law" Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
4/25 HCS HB 2615 "Stand Your Ground Law" Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
4/26 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/27 SCR 113 The Great American Boycott 2006 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/03 HB 1315 Juvenile Criminal Parole Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/04 HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/16 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
5/23 SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/24 Sub for HB 5192 Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/29 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
1/23 SB 1 Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
1/23 SB 1 Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
1/24 SB 88 Seat Belt Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
1/25 SB 526 Defining Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
1/27 Sub HB 2661 Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
1/27 HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
1/27 HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
1/31 SB 362 Death Penalty Age Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
1/31 SB 258 Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
1/31 SB 258 Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
1/31 SB 145 Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
2/02 SB 253 Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/07 SB 2511 Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
2/07 SB 2511 Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
2/09 SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
2/09 SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
2/09 SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
2/11 SB 216 Criminal DNA Collection Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
2/14 S 1327 Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/14 HB 211 Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
2/15 HJR 2 Marriage Amendment Ballot Question Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/22 HB 1215 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/22 SF 36 Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
2/23 1SSB 97 Student Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/28 HB 1028 Firearms and Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
2/28 HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/28 S 1337 Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/28 S 1337 Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
3/01 HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/01 HB 328 Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/02 HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/02 HB 1099 Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/02 SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
3/02 SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
3/02 SCS SB 396 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13)

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