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
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SJR 7 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Jan. 30, 2008 TN SA 839 Allowing Medically Necessary Abortions Bill Tabled - Senate (18 - 14)
Jan. 30, 2008 TN SA 841 Allowing Abortion for Rape Victims who are Minors Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 12)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 335 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 335 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Jan. 29, 2008 NM SB 23 Authorizing Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Jan. 28, 2008 CO SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 28, 2008 CO SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 30, 2008 TN SA 837 Allowing Abortion in Certain Circumstances Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 11)
Jan. 25, 2008 CO SA Mitchell Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 IN HB 1153 Low-Stakes Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Feb. 7, 2008 NH SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Feb. 2, 2008 NM SB 68 Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
Feb. 2, 2008 NM SB 68 Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Feb. 6, 2008 SD SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
Feb. 6, 2008 SD SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2008 UT SB 75 Prohibiting Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2008 UT SB 75 Prohibiting Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
Feb. 1, 2008 MS SB 2037 Requirements for Public Works Laborers Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 340 Prohibiting Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
Feb. 7, 2008 KY SB 40 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/29 SJR 7 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
1/30 SA 839 Allowing Medically Necessary Abortions Bill Tabled - Senate (18 - 14)
1/30 SA 841 Allowing Abortion for Rape Victims who are Minors Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 12)
1/29 SB 335 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
1/29 SB 335 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
1/29 SB 23 Authorizing Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
1/28 SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/28 SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/30 SA 837 Allowing Abortion in Certain Circumstances Bill Tabled - Senate (20 - 11)
1/25 SA Mitchell Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20)
2/27 HB 1153 Low-Stakes Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
2/07 SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
2/04 SB 34 New Mexico School for the Arts Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
2/02 SB 68 Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
2/02 SB 68 Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
2/05 SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
2/06 SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
2/06 SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
2/05 SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/05 SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/06 SB 75 Prohibiting Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
2/06 SB 75 Prohibiting Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
2/01 SB 2037 Requirements for Public Works Laborers Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5)
2/07 SB 340 Prohibiting Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
2/07 SB 40 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)

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