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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 20, 2009 | MN | Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41) | |
March 23, 2009 | VT | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
March 23, 2009 | VT | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A2653 | Fur Labeling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
Dec. 10, 2009 | NJ | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Dec. 10, 2009 | NJ | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Dec. 10, 2009 | NJ | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
June 18, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
June 26, 2009 | NJ | A 339 | Handgun Purchasing Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
April 28, 2009 | NY | A 6468 | Microstamping Requirement for Semiautomatic Pistols | Bill Passed - House (94 - 47) |
April 22, 2009 | PA | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
May 12, 2009 | NY | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
May 12, 2009 | NY | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
April 28, 2009 | NY | A 801 | Renewal Requirement for Pistol and Revolver Licenses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 58) |
Sept. 2, 2009 | CA | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 20) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Sept. 4, 2009 | CA | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Aug. 20, 2009 | CA | ABx3 14 | Correctional Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
April 15, 2009 | NV | AJR 7 | Allowing for State Lottery | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11) |
April 28, 2009 | MO | Amdt 1 | Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" | Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43) |
April 28, 2009 | MO | Amdt 1 | Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" | Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 2 | Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45) |
Jan. 30, 2009 | WY | Amdt 2001 to HB 31 | Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25) |
Jan. 30, 2009 | WY | Amdt 2002 to HB 31 | Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18) |
April 1, 2009 | NC | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
May 27, 2009 | LA | Amdt B-200 | Cell Phone Secondary Offense | Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 40) |
May 27, 2009 | LA | Amendment # 1874 | Video Draw Poker Device Location Restriction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
April 7, 2009 | ID | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
April 15, 2009 | VT | H 147 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (104 - 40) |
March 20, 2009 | ID | H 214 | Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages | Bill Failed - House (31 - 32) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | SC | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
March 3, 2009 | SC | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
May 12, 2009 | RI | H 5143 | E-Verify Bill | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
May 19, 2009 | RI | H 5769 | Boxing Rule Changes | Bill Passed - House (53 - 13) |
June 3, 2009 | MA | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
July 13, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44) |
July 13, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
4/20 | Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41) | |
3/23 | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
3/23 | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
6/25 | A2653 | Fur Labeling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
12/10 | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
12/10 | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
12/10 | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
6/25 | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
6/18 | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
6/26 | A 339 | Handgun Purchasing Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
4/28 | A 6468 | Microstamping Requirement for Semiautomatic Pistols | Bill Passed - House (94 - 47) |
4/22 | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
5/12 | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
5/12 | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
4/28 | A 801 | Renewal Requirement for Pistol and Revolver Licenses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 58) |
9/02 | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
11/05 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
11/05 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
9/10 | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 20) |
9/08 | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
9/04 | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/10 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
9/09 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
8/20 | ABx3 14 | Correctional Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
4/15 | AJR 7 | Allowing for State Lottery | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11) |
4/28 | Amdt 1 | Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" | Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43) |
4/28 | Amdt 1 | Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" | Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43) |
2/24 | Amdt 2 | Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45) |
1/30 | Amdt 2001 to HB 31 | Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25) |
1/30 | Amdt 2002 to HB 31 | Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18) |
4/01 | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
2/24 | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
5/27 | Amdt B-200 | Cell Phone Secondary Offense | Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 40) |
5/27 | Amendment # 1874 | Video Draw Poker Device Location Restriction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
4/07 | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
4/15 | H 147 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (104 - 40) |
3/20 | H 214 | Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages | Bill Failed - House (31 - 32) |
2/26 | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
3/03 | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
5/12 | H 5143 | E-Verify Bill | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
5/19 | H 5769 | Boxing Rule Changes | Bill Passed - House (53 - 13) |
6/03 | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
7/13 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44) |
7/13 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |