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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
April 17, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
April 18, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
Feb. 6, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
Feb. 7, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
Feb. 12, 2007 | NM | HB 190 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
Feb. 24, 2007 | MT | SB 306 | Eliminate Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
March 20, 2007 | NE | LB 476 | Elimination of the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
March 6, 2007 | TX | HB 8 | Punishment of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (119 - 25) |
March 20, 2007 | GA | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
May 14, 2007 | NY | S 319 | Death Penalty For Certain Murders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24) |
July 20, 2007 | National | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18) |
Dec. 10, 2007 | NJ | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Dec. 13, 2007 | NJ | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (44 - 36) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 8, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
March 25, 2008 | NE | LB 1063 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28) |
March 19, 2008 | GA | SB 145 | Amending Sentencing Guidelines for Murder | Bill Passed - House (112 - 55) |
March 19, 2008 | GA | Fleming AM 29 0700 | Amending Capital Punishment Sentencing Procedures | Amendment Adopted - House (100 - 66) |
June 18, 2008 | NY | S 4632 | Reinstate the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 21) |
March 14, 1996 | National | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
Feb. 25, 1998 | National | H Amdt 497 | Death Sentence Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300) |
June 7, 1995 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8) |
April 14, 1994 | National | H Amdt 503 | Death Penalty Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (111 - 314) |
April 21, 1994 | National | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
Nov. 8, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1132 | Prohibiting the Death Penalty for Minors | Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 41) |
Nov. 17, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1204 | Replacing the Death Penalty with Life Imprisonment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 74) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 11, 2009 | NM | HB 285 | Abolishing The Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (40 - 28) |
Feb. 17, 2009 | MT | SB 236 | Abolition of Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
March 13, 2009 | NM | HB 285 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 18) |
April 29, 2009 | NH | HB 556 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Tabled - Senate (13 - 11) |
March 25, 2009 | NH | HB 556 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (193 - 174) |
March 26, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
March 5, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
March 2, 2009 | UT | SJR 14 | Legislative Regulation of Death Row Appeals | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
March 12, 2009 | UT | SJR 14 | Legislative Regulation of Death Row Appeals | Joint Resolution Failed - House (38 - 35) |
May 13, 2009 | CT | HB 6578 | Death Penalty Replacement | Bill Passed - House (90 - 56) |
July 15, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
May 14, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
May 6, 2009 | CO | HB 1274 | Repeals Death Penalty | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (17 - 18) |
April 21, 2009 | CO | HB 1274 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
May 28, 2009 | NE | LB 36 | Requiring Lethal Injection | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1/23 | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
4/17 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
4/18 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
2/06 | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
2/14 | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
2/07 | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
2/14 | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
2/12 | HB 190 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
2/24 | SB 306 | Eliminate Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
3/20 | LB 476 | Elimination of the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
3/06 | HB 8 | Punishment of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (119 - 25) |
3/20 | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
5/14 | S 319 | Death Penalty For Certain Murders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24) |
7/20 | HR 2669 | Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 18) |
12/10 | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
12/13 | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (44 - 36) |
2/25 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/08 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
3/25 | LB 1063 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 28) |
3/19 | SB 145 | Amending Sentencing Guidelines for Murder | Bill Passed - House (112 - 55) |
3/19 | Fleming AM 29 0700 | Amending Capital Punishment Sentencing Procedures | Amendment Adopted - House (100 - 66) |
6/18 | S 4632 | Reinstate the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 21) |
3/14 | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
2/25 | H Amdt 497 | Death Sentence Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300) |
6/07 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8) |
4/14 | H Amdt 503 | Death Penalty Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (111 - 314) |
4/21 | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
11/08 | S Amdt 1132 | Prohibiting the Death Penalty for Minors | Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 41) |
11/17 | S Amdt 1204 | Replacing the Death Penalty with Life Imprisonment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 74) |
1/27 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/11 | HB 285 | Abolishing The Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (40 - 28) |
2/17 | SB 236 | Abolition of Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
2/25 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
3/13 | HB 285 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 18) |
4/29 | HB 556 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Tabled - Senate (13 - 11) |
3/25 | HB 556 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (193 - 174) |
3/26 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
3/05 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
3/02 | SJR 14 | Legislative Regulation of Death Row Appeals | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
3/12 | SJR 14 | Legislative Regulation of Death Row Appeals | Joint Resolution Failed - House (38 - 35) |
5/13 | HB 6578 | Death Penalty Replacement | Bill Passed - House (90 - 56) |
7/15 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
5/14 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
5/06 | HB 1274 | Repeals Death Penalty | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (17 - 18) |
4/21 | HB 1274 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
5/28 | LB 36 | Requiring Lethal Injection | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |