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
March 22, 2006 KS SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
March 22, 2006 KS SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
May 10, 2006 KS HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
May 10, 2006 KS HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
May 1, 2006 KS HB 2554 DNA Sampling in Felony Cases Conference Report Adopted - 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. 9, 2006 KS SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
April 26, 2006 LA Amdt 1923 Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20)
April 26, 2006 LA SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
July 13, 2006 MA H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
June 7, 2006 MA H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
June 15, 2006 MD HB 2 Mandatory Sentences and Other Penalties for Sex Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
March 27, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
March 27, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
April 28, 2006 ME HCA C to LD 1717 Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
June 6, 2006 MI HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 6, 2006 MI HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 6, 2006 MI HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
May 24, 2006 MI Sub for HB 5192 Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
April 20, 2006 MN SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
March 8, 2006 MS HB 1089 Wildlife Feeding Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
Jan. 27, 2006 MS HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
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)
Jan. 27, 2006 MS HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
May 26, 2006 National PN 1552 Michael Hayden, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 15)
July 12, 2006 National S Amdt 4553 Rail and Transit Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
July 11, 2006 National S Amdt 4563 FEMA Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66)
Sept. 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4999 Security of Cargo Containers Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
July 11, 2006 National S Amdt 4560 USEMA Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (87 - 11)
July 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4659 Double-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
July 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4615 Firearm Confiscation Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 16)
Aug. 2, 2006 National S Amdt 4775 Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3)
July 12, 2006 National S Amdt 4587 Transit Security Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
Sept. 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4936 National Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
June 15, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/22 SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
3/22 SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
5/10 HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
5/10 HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
5/01 HB 2554 DNA Sampling in Felony Cases Conference Report Adopted - 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)
2/09 SB 418 Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
4/26 Amdt 1923 Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20)
4/26 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
5/23 SB 652 Cockfighting Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/23 SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
7/13 H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
6/07 H 4176 Sale of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/15 Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
3/28 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
3/28 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
6/15 HB 2 Mandatory Sentences and Other Penalties for Sex Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
3/27 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
3/27 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
4/28 HCA C to LD 1717 Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
6/06 HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/06 HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/06 HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
5/24 Sub for HB 5192 Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
4/20 SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
3/08 HB 1089 Wildlife Feeding Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
1/27 HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
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)
1/27 HB 409 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
5/26 PN 1552 Michael Hayden, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 15)
7/12 S Amdt 4553 Rail and Transit Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
7/11 S Amdt 4563 FEMA Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66)
9/13 S Amdt 4999 Security of Cargo Containers Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
7/11 S Amdt 4560 USEMA Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (87 - 11)
7/13 S Amdt 4659 Double-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
9/28 S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
3/16 S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
7/13 S Amdt 4615 Firearm Confiscation Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 16)
8/02 S Amdt 4775 Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3)
7/12 S Amdt 4587 Transit Security Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
9/13 S Amdt 4936 National Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57)
9/28 S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
9/28 S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
9/28 S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
9/28 S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
9/28 S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
6/15 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)

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