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 24, 2010 MD SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
April 6, 2010 ME LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67)
April 6, 2010 ME LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67)
April 5, 2010 ME LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 5, 2010 ME LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 29, 2010 OK SB 1891 Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
March 10, 2010 OK SB 1891 Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
April 1, 2010 KY HB 415 Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2010 NM SB 40 Authorizing Concealed Weapons in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - House (54 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM SB 40 Authorizing Concealed Weapons in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
March 2, 2010 VA SB 408 Gun Regulation Modifications Bill Passed - House (74 - 25)
April 8, 2010 NE LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
April 12, 2010 NE LB 594 Abortion Screening Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
April 12, 2010 NE LB 1103 Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
April 5, 2010 CA AB 1656 Requiring Fur Product Labeling Bill Passed - House (59 - 11)
April 1, 2010 MO HB 1747 Authorizing Horse Slaughterhouses Bill Passed - House (91 - 61)
April 14, 2010 MA H 4591 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (120 - 37)
April 15, 2010 FL SB 622 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
April 21, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
April 21, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
March 18, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
March 18, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 612 Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 612 Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
April 20, 2010 LA SB 368 Notification Requirements for Iguana Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 2, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
April 21, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
April 21, 2010 NH SB 489 Gambling Expansion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (212 - 158)
April 20, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33)
March 25, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 15, 2010 MO SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 19)
May 6, 2010 CO HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 22, 2010 CO HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - House (39 - 23)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA SB 408 Gun Regulation Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
June 14, 2010 LA HB 1247 Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
April 22, 2010 LA HB 1247 Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortions Bill Passed - House (76 - 13)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 88 Health Risk Exemption from Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (17 - 67)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 89 Rape and Incest Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (21 - 65)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 87A Non-Viability Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (19 - 66)
April 23, 2010 WI AB 720 Statewide Smoking Ban Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 34)
April 28, 2010 FL Amdt 841564 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Amendment Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
April 27, 2010 CT HB 5246 Domestic Violence Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (125 - 19)
April 27, 2010 CT HB 5246 Domestic Violence Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (125 - 19)
April 27, 2010 DE HB 347 Raising the Reporting Age for Misdemeanors by Students Bill Passed - House (22 - 9)
April 28, 2010 LA HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
April 28, 2010 LA HB 1259 Prohibiting "Cyber-Bullying" Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
April 27, 2010 OK HB 2656 Abortion Regulation Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/24 SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
4/06 LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67)
4/06 LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67)
4/05 LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/05 LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/29 SB 1891 Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
3/10 SB 1891 Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
4/01 HB 415 Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10)
2/18 SB 40 Authorizing Concealed Weapons in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - House (54 - 12)
2/12 SB 40 Authorizing Concealed Weapons in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
3/02 SB 408 Gun Regulation Modifications Bill Passed - House (74 - 25)
4/08 LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
4/12 LB 594 Abortion Screening Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
4/12 LB 1103 Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
4/05 AB 1656 Requiring Fur Product Labeling Bill Passed - House (59 - 11)
4/01 HB 1747 Authorizing Horse Slaughterhouses Bill Passed - House (91 - 61)
4/14 H 4591 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (120 - 37)
4/15 SB 622 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
4/21 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
4/21 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
3/18 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
3/18 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
4/15 AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
4/15 AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
4/15 AB 612 Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
4/15 AB 612 Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings Bill Passed - House (67 - 30)
4/20 SB 368 Notification Requirements for Iguana Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/02 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
4/21 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
4/21 SB 489 Gambling Expansion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (212 - 158)
4/20 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33)
3/25 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/15 SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
5/11 HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 19)
5/06 HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/22 HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - House (39 - 23)
2/16 SB 408 Gun Regulation Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
6/14 HB 1247 Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
4/22 HB 1247 Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortions Bill Passed - House (76 - 13)
4/22 Amdt 88 Health Risk Exemption from Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (17 - 67)
4/22 Amdt 89 Rape and Incest Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (21 - 65)
4/22 Amdt 87A Non-Viability Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (19 - 66)
4/23 AB 720 Statewide Smoking Ban Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 34)
4/28 Amdt 841564 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Amendment Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
4/27 HB 5246 Domestic Violence Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (125 - 19)
4/27 HB 5246 Domestic Violence Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (125 - 19)
4/27 HB 347 Raising the Reporting Age for Misdemeanors by Students Bill Passed - House (22 - 9)
4/28 HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
4/28 HB 1259 Prohibiting "Cyber-Bullying" Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
4/27 HB 2656 Abortion Regulation Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 12)

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