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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 28, 2008 MI Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
May 28, 2008 MI Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
April 20, 2009 MN Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41)
April 27, 2009 MN Ban on State Funds for Abortions Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39)
March 23, 2009 VT Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19)
May 24, 2006 UT 2SHB 3001 2006-2007 Transportation Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 10)
March 1, 2006 UT 3SHB 109 Food Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
Feb. 5, 2007 NJ A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
May 20, 2010 NJ A 10 Increasing Income Tax Rate on Income Exceeding $1 Million Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11308 Emergency State Parks Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 27)
Jan. 24, 2023 NY A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. (43 - 20)
April 2, 2009 NY A 156-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 3, 2009 NY A 157-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 3, 2009 NY A 158-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
April 3, 2009 NY A 159-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
Feb. 3, 2009 NY A 163-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
Nov. 16, 2020 NJ A 1649 Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Nov. 16, 2020 NJ A 1649 Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 2014 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at More Locations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
June 25, 2007 PA A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
May 21, 2009 NJ A 2451 Vote by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 2, 2021 NY A 2574 Establishes the State University of New York as an Automatic Voter Registration Location Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 20)
March 17, 2014 NY A 2597A Establishes the New York DREAM Fund Commission Bill Failed - Senate (30 - 29)
March 20, 2006 NJ A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
April 9, 2017 NY A 3009 Establishes State Fiscal Plan (53 - 4)
June 28, 2010 NJ A 3009 Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
June 18, 2009 NJ A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 3463 Requires Polling Places to Post Count of Voters Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 18, 2013 NJ A 3614 Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Dec. 21, 2023 NJ A 3690 Authorizes Minors to Vote in a State Primary Election if They Turn 18 Prior to the General Election Date Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
June 29, 2022 NJ A 3733 Authorizes Students in Higher Education to Earn Graduation Credits for Serving as a Poll Worker Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 2)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Dec. 2, 2009 NY A 40022 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 3)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4048 2009 Economic Package Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4100 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 25, 2009 NJ A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Jan. 3, 2008 NJ A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 4249 Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Aug. 27, 2020 NJ A 4276 Authorizes Voters to Cure Their Ballot to Fix Problems that County Election Officials Identify Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 27, 2020 NJ A 4276 Authorizes Voters to Cure Their Ballot to Fix Problems that County Election Officials Identify Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 27, 2020 NJ A 4320 Expands Ballot Receipt and Election Deadlines Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Jan. 11, 2010 NJ A 4378 Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2020 NJ A 4475 Requires Ballot Drop Boxes in Every County of New Jersey Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/28 Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
5/28 Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
4/20 Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41)
4/27 Ban on State Funds for Abortions Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39)
3/23 Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19)
5/24 2SHB 3001 2006-2007 Transportation Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 10)
3/01 3SHB 109 Food Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
2/05 A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
5/20 A 10 Increasing Income Tax Rate on Income Exceeding $1 Million Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
8/08 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
8/08 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
5/28 A 11308 Emergency State Parks Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 27)
1/24 A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. (43 - 20)
4/02 A 156-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/03 A 157-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/03 A 158-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
4/03 A 159-B Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 30)
2/03 A 163-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
11/16 A 1649 Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
11/16 A 1649 Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
4/12 A 2014 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at More Locations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
6/25 A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
5/21 A 2451 Vote by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
2/02 A 2574 Establishes the State University of New York as an Automatic Voter Registration Location Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 20)
3/17 A 2597A Establishes the New York DREAM Fund Commission Bill Failed - Senate (30 - 29)
3/20 A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
4/09 A 3009 Establishes State Fiscal Plan (53 - 4)
6/28 A 3009 Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
6/18 A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
11/24 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
12/15 A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
11/24 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
6/25 A 3463 Requires Polling Places to Post Count of Voters Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/18 A 3614 Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
12/21 A 3690 Authorizes Minors to Vote in a State Primary Election if They Turn 18 Prior to the General Election Date Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
6/29 A 3733 Authorizes Students in Higher Education to Earn Graduation Credits for Serving as a Poll Worker Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 2)
6/25 A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
12/02 A 40022 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 3)
6/25 A 4048 2009 Economic Package Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
6/25 A 4100 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
6/25 A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/25 A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
1/03 A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
6/25 A 4249 Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
8/27 A 4276 Authorizes Voters to Cure Their Ballot to Fix Problems that County Election Officials Identify Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/27 A 4276 Authorizes Voters to Cure Their Ballot to Fix Problems that County Election Officials Identify Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/27 A 4320 Expands Ballot Receipt and Election Deadlines Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
1/11 A 4378 Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
8/27 A 4475 Requires Ballot Drop Boxes in Every County of New Jersey Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)

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