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
Nov. 17, 2011 National HR 2112 Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
Nov. 3, 2011 National S 1786 Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
Nov. 3, 2011 National S 1769 Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations and Tax on Income Over $1 Million Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49)
Oct. 26, 2011 IL SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 24)
Oct. 25, 2011 PA SB 595 Authorizes the Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Sept. 7, 2011 CA AB 1424 Suspending the Licenses of Delinquent Taxpayers Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 30, 2011 CA AB 353 DUI Inspection Checkpoints and Unlicensed Drivers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
June 27, 2011 TX SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8496 Increases The Number Of Taxicabs Serving New York Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
June 23, 2011 DE HB 95 Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
June 15, 2011 NY S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
May 25, 2011 TX S Amdt 3 Prohibits Texting While Driving Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12)
May 20, 2011 IL HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
May 17, 2011 NE LB 421 Park Entry Permit Fees Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
May 6, 2011 UT SB 229 Transportation Funding Revisions Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 3)
April 25, 2011 CA SB 28 Penalties for Using Mobile Device When Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
April 20, 2011 WA SB 5622 Recreation Access on State Lands Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 19, 2011 AZ SB 1402 Special License Plates Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 9, 2011 WA HB 1382 Express Toll Lanes in the Eastside Corridor Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
March 29, 2011 WA SB 5251 Electric Vehicle Registration Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
March 28, 2011 ND HB 1190 Prohibits Distracted Driving Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
March 28, 2011 ND HB 1195 Bans Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 24, 2011 AR HB 1902 Highway Financing Act 0f 2011 Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 16, 2011 WA SB 5407 Prohibits Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Motion Rejected - Senate (23 - 25)
March 15, 2011 AZ SB 1538 Cell Phone Usage While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 10, 2011 GA SB 162 DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
March 10, 2011 GA SB 162 DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Not Tabled - Senate (20 - 34)
March 9, 2011 NM HB 78 Driver License and ID Card Restrictions for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
March 8, 2011 AZ SB 1402 Special License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 3, 2011 UT HB 155 Cycling Law Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2011 WY HB 29 Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Feb. 21, 2011 VA SB 1446 Transportation Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (1 - 38)
Feb. 17, 2011 VA HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2011 NJ S2636 Reduction of Toll Road Prices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 16, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
Feb. 15, 2011 National S Amdt 21 Reducing Federal Aviation Administration Appropriations Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
Feb. 15, 2011 National S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
Feb. 10, 2011 UT SB 124 Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Feb. 10, 2011 NM SB 124 Safeguarding Bicyclists Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA SB 1351 Wireless Telecommunication Devices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2011 AR SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Jan. 25, 2011 IN SB 47 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Jan. 24, 2011 WY SF 51 Seat Belt Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/17 HR 2112 Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
11/03 S 1786 Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
11/03 S 1769 Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations and Tax on Income Over $1 Million Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49)
10/26 SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 24)
10/25 SB 595 Authorizes the Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
9/07 AB 1424 Suspending the Licenses of Delinquent Taxpayers Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/30 AB 353 DUI Inspection Checkpoints and Unlicensed Drivers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
6/27 SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
6/24 A 8496 Increases The Number Of Taxicabs Serving New York Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
6/23 HB 95 Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
6/15 S 5596 Revising The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
5/25 S Amdt 3 Prohibits Texting While Driving Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12)
5/20 HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
5/17 LB 421 Park Entry Permit Fees Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
5/06 SB 229 Transportation Funding Revisions Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 3)
4/25 SB 28 Penalties for Using Mobile Device When Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
4/20 SB 5622 Recreation Access on State Lands Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/19 SB 1402 Special License Plates Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/09 HB 1382 Express Toll Lanes in the Eastside Corridor Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
3/29 SB 5251 Electric Vehicle Registration Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
3/28 HB 1190 Prohibits Distracted Driving Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
3/28 HB 1195 Bans Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/24 HB 1902 Highway Financing Act 0f 2011 Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/16 SB 5407 Prohibits Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Motion Rejected - Senate (23 - 25)
3/15 SB 1538 Cell Phone Usage While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/10 SB 162 DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
3/10 SB 162 DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Not Tabled - Senate (20 - 34)
3/09 HB 78 Driver License and ID Card Restrictions for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
3/08 SB 1402 Special License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/03 HB 155 Cycling Law Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11)
2/28 HB 29 Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
2/21 SB 1446 Transportation Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (1 - 38)
2/17 HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
2/17 S2636 Reduction of Toll Road Prices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/16 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
2/15 S Amdt 21 Reducing Federal Aviation Administration Appropriations Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
2/15 S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
2/10 SB 124 Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
2/10 SB 124 Safeguarding Bicyclists Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/08 SB 1351 Wireless Telecommunication Devices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
2/02 SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
1/25 SB 47 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
1/24 SF 51 Seat Belt Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)

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