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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 13, 2024 | ID | H 515 | Amends Penalties for Lewd Conduct with a Minor | Bill Passed - House (57 - 11) |
May 4, 2023 | SC | S 120 | Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
May 4, 2023 | IL | HB 3762 | Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
April 20, 2023 | SC | S 120 | Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company | Bill Passed - House (80 - 22) |
March 24, 2023 | IL | HB 3762 | Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (66 - 36) |
March 20, 2023 | ID | H 186 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
March 3, 2023 | ID | H 186 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (50 - 15) |
May 5, 2021 | SC | S 200 | Establishes the Firing Squad as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
April 13, 2021 | NV | AB 395 | Rescinds the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
March 2, 2021 | SC | S 200 | Establishes the Electric Chair as the Default Method of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
Feb. 22, 2021 | VA | SB 1165 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
Feb. 3, 2021 | VA | SB 1165 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Aug. 13, 2020 | NE | LB 238 | Requires Witnesses of Executions to Watch the Entire Proceeding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | CO | SB 20-100 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
Jan. 31, 2020 | CO | SB 20-100 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
June 19, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
June 5, 2019 | OH | HB 136 | Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
May 23, 2019 | NH | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - House (247 - 123) |
May 21, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
April 11, 2019 | NH | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
March 7, 2019 | NH | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (279 - 88) |
Jan. 29, 2019 | SC | S 176 | Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
May 18, 2017 | National | HR 115 | Thin Blue Line Act | Bill Passed - House (271 - 143) |
May 16, 2017 | AL | SB 187 | Reduces Time to File Appeals for Death Row Inmates | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
May 9, 2017 | DE | HB 125 | Authorizes Capital Punishment | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
April 18, 2017 | AL | SB 12 | Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
April 20, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
April 20, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
April 7, 2016 | AL | SB 237 | Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
March 25, 2016 | MS | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 32) |
March 2, 2016 | UT | SB 189 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12) |
March 1, 2016 | MS | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
Jan. 28, 2016 | DE | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - House (16 - 23) |
July 29, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
July 27, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
May 27, 2015 | NE | LB 268 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
April 29, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - House (84 - 33) |
April 2, 2015 | DE | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
March 11, 2015 | AL | HB 18 | Authorizes Execution by Electrocution | Bill Passed - House (76 - 26) |
March 10, 2015 | UT | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
Feb. 13, 2015 | UT | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | WY | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 12) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | WY | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | VA | SB 1393 | Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Jan. 16, 2015 | WY | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Dec. 17, 2014 | OH | HB 663 | Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 23) |
Dec. 11, 2014 | OH | HB 663 | Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/13 | H 515 | Amends Penalties for Lewd Conduct with a Minor | Bill Passed - House (57 - 11) |
5/04 | S 120 | Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
5/04 | HB 3762 | Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
4/20 | S 120 | Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company | Bill Passed - House (80 - 22) |
3/24 | HB 3762 | Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (66 - 36) |
3/20 | H 186 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
3/03 | H 186 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (50 - 15) |
5/05 | S 200 | Establishes the Firing Squad as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
4/13 | AB 395 | Rescinds the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
3/02 | S 200 | Establishes the Electric Chair as the Default Method of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
2/22 | SB 1165 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
2/03 | SB 1165 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
8/13 | LB 238 | Requires Witnesses of Executions to Watch the Entire Proceeding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
2/26 | SB 20-100 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
1/31 | SB 20-100 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
6/19 | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
6/05 | HB 136 | Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
5/23 | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - House (247 - 123) |
5/21 | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
4/11 | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
3/07 | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (279 - 88) |
1/29 | S 176 | Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
5/18 | HR 115 | Thin Blue Line Act | Bill Passed - House (271 - 143) |
5/16 | SB 187 | Reduces Time to File Appeals for Death Row Inmates | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
5/09 | HB 125 | Authorizes Capital Punishment | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
4/18 | SB 12 | Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
4/20 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
4/20 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
4/07 | SB 237 | Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
3/25 | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
3/11 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
3/11 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 32) |
3/02 | SB 189 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12) |
3/01 | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
2/10 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
1/28 | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - House (16 - 23) |
7/29 | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
7/27 | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
5/27 | LB 268 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
4/29 | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - House (84 - 33) |
4/02 | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
3/11 | HB 18 | Authorizes Execution by Electrocution | Bill Passed - House (76 - 26) |
3/10 | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
2/13 | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
2/12 | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 12) |
2/12 | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
2/10 | SB 1393 | Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
1/16 | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
12/17 | HB 663 | Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 23) |
12/11 | HB 663 | Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |