Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
Feb. 24, 2012 UT HB 198 Prohibits Regulation of Family Food Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2012 FL HB 971 Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment Bill Passed - House (77 - 35)
Feb. 24, 2012 FL HB 971 Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment Bill Passed - House (77 - 35)
Feb. 24, 2012 UT HB 104 Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
Feb. 23, 2012 ID HJM 10 Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2012 KS HB 2437 Amends Voting Registration Requirements Bill Passed - House (81 - 43)
Feb. 22, 2012 NH HR 29 Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121)
Feb. 21, 2012 UT HB 49 Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms Bill Passed - House (50 - 21)
Feb. 17, 2012 WY HB 32 State House and Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (49 - 9)
Feb. 17, 2012 WY HB 32 State House and Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (49 - 9)
Feb. 16, 2012 AL HB 159 Authorizes Economic Development Incentive Program Bill Passed - House (65 - 22)
Feb. 16, 2012 UT HB 90 Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights Bill Passed - House (38 - 34)
Feb. 16, 2012 UT HB 90 Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights Bill Passed - House (38 - 34)
Feb. 16, 2012 KY HB 70 Authorizes People Convicted of Certain Felonies to Vote Bill Passed - House (78 - 18)
Feb. 15, 2012 MS HB 211 Amends the Rules Regarding Hiring Outside Counsel Bill Passed - House (59 - 56)
Feb. 15, 2012 CO HB 1301 Authorizes Legislative Appropriations Bill Passed - House (34 - 28)
Feb. 15, 2012 NH HB 1666 Limits State Contribution to Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - House (232 - 119)
Feb. 14, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 9, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
Feb. 9, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
Feb. 9, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
Feb. 9, 2012 KS HB 2606 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (109 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2012 MO HB 1104 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (101 - 54)
Feb. 9, 2012 NM HB 42 Increasing Contribution to Legislative Pension Plan Bill Passed - House (56 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/24 HB 198 Prohibits Regulation of Family Food Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
2/24 HB 971 Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment Bill Passed - House (77 - 35)
2/24 HB 971 Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment Bill Passed - House (77 - 35)
2/24 HB 104 Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
2/23 HJM 10 Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15)
2/23 HB 2437 Amends Voting Registration Requirements Bill Passed - House (81 - 43)
2/22 HR 29 Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121)
2/21 HB 49 Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms Bill Passed - House (50 - 21)
2/17 HB 32 State House and Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (49 - 9)
2/17 HB 32 State House and Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (49 - 9)
2/16 HB 159 Authorizes Economic Development Incentive Program Bill Passed - House (65 - 22)
2/16 HB 90 Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights Bill Passed - House (38 - 34)
2/16 HB 90 Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights Bill Passed - House (38 - 34)
2/16 HB 70 Authorizes People Convicted of Certain Felonies to Vote Bill Passed - House (78 - 18)
2/15 HB 211 Amends the Rules Regarding Hiring Outside Counsel Bill Passed - House (59 - 56)
2/15 HB 1301 Authorizes Legislative Appropriations Bill Passed - House (34 - 28)
2/15 HB 1666 Limits State Contribution to Public Employee Benefits Bill Passed - House (232 - 119)
2/14 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/14 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/09 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
2/09 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
2/09 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
2/09 HB 2606 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (109 - 14)
2/09 HB 1104 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (101 - 54)
2/09 HB 42 Increasing Contribution to Legislative Pension Plan Bill Passed - House (56 - 10)

arrow_upward