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
June 12, 2008 RI H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
June 25, 2008 PA A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data Bill Failed - House (92 - 108)
Aug. 20, 2008 CA AB 2233 Ban on Holding Pets While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
May 5, 2008 CA AB 2233 Ban on Holding Pets While Driving Bill Passed - House (44 - 20)
May 27, 2008 CA AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 30)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Aug. 20, 2008 CA AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
Jan. 15, 2008 WI AB 363 Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances Bill Passed - House (48 - 44)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Jan. 23, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
Feb. 14, 2008 NE AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
April 7, 2008 MN Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
March 17, 2008 ID H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 18, 2008 ID H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
Jan. 23, 2008 MA H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
April 25, 2008 IA H 8672 DUI Appeals Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50)
March 5, 2008 CO HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
Feb. 6, 2008 CO HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Bill Passed - House (43 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
March 18, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
Jan. 21, 2008 VA HB 188 HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
June 28, 2008 WV HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 26, 2008 WV HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - House (67 - 21)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2340 Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Feb. 14, 2008 KS HB 2617 Mandatory Drug Testing for Drivers Causing Serious Accidents Bill Passed - House (117 - 5)
May 12, 2008 OK HB 2633 Religious Expression at Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 28)
May 6, 2008 AZ HB 2677 Real ID Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 19, 2008 AZ HB 2677 Real ID Bill Passed - House (51 - 8)
June 26, 2008 AZ HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
March 24, 2008 AZ HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA HB 2713 Convicted Criminal DNA Database Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
March 10, 2008 OK HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 25, 2008 WV HB 4023 Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
Feb. 19, 2008 MI HB 4092 DNA Testing for Violent Felonies Bill Passed - House (104 - 4)
Feb. 25, 2008 WV HB 4132 Prohibiting Mandatory Employee Participation in Political Events Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
May 8, 2008 MI HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
March 4, 2008 IL HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
Feb. 14, 2008 MI HB 4505 Changes to Driver's License Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 5)
Feb. 21, 2008 MI HB 4675 Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Open Meetings and Public Access Requirements Bill Passed - House (66 - 38)
May 28, 2008 MI HB 5074 Ban Smoking in Places of Employment and Public Places with Exceptions for Casinos, Cigar Bars, and Specialty Tobacco Stores Bill Passed - House (65 - 39)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 5117 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
May 27, 2008 IL HB 5288 Expand Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24)
Dec. 10, 2008 OH HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
April 1, 2008 KY HB 70 Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
Jan. 30, 2008 NH HB 847 Speed Limitations for Vessels Operating on Water Bill Passed - House (236 - 111)
June 17, 2008 LA HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27)
April 21, 2008 LA HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Jan. 31, 2008 GA HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - House (111 - 58)
June 21, 2008 LA HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
Jan. 29, 2008 GA HB 908 Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions Bill Passed - House (141 - 29)
April 14, 2008 MN HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 44)
April 21, 2008 MN HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11)
April 8, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
April 8, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
March 13, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
March 12, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40)
Feb. 27, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Feb. 19, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 30)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
March 7, 2008 CO HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 21)
March 10, 2008 CO HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 14, 2008 National HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
July 9, 2008 National HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 28)
June 20, 2008 National HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (293 - 129)
Jan. 15, 2008 NE LB 253 Repealing Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25)
Feb. 22, 2008 NE LB 395 Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
March 27, 2008 ME LD 2012 Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 25, 2008 ME LD 2012 Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children Bill Passed - House (92 - 46)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
June 12, 2008 NY S 2375 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 9)
June 20, 2008 RI S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (44 - 12)
June 17, 2008 RI S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
July 29, 2008 MA S 2807 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
May 29, 2008 LA S Amdt 3870 Legislator Financial Disclosures Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 29)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
July 9, 2008 National S Amdt 5064 Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66)
Feb. 11, 2008 OR SB 1080 Driver's License Residency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 6, 2008 OK SB 1150 Voter Identification Requirement Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
April 2, 2008 KY SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - House (88 - 8)
March 12, 2008 KY SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
June 19, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
May 6, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2008 SD SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
June 17, 2008 NC SB 1686 Restrictions on Public Smoking Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
April 2, 2008 GA SB 174 Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees Bill Failed - House (55 - 107)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/12 H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
1/07 A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
1/07 A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
6/25 A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data Bill Failed - House (92 - 108)
8/20 AB 2233 Ban on Holding Pets While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
5/05 AB 2233 Ban on Holding Pets While Driving Bill Passed - House (44 - 20)
5/27 AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 30)
8/07 AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
8/20 AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
5/28 AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
1/15 AB 363 Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances Bill Passed - House (48 - 44)
2/28 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
1/23 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
2/14 AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
4/07 Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
3/17 H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/18 H 348 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
1/23 H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
4/25 H 8672 DUI Appeals Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50)
3/05 HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
2/06 HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Bill Passed - House (43 - 20)
2/27 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
3/18 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/06 HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
1/21 HB 188 HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
6/28 HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/26 HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - House (67 - 21)
7/17 HB 2340 Prohibiting Children from Riding in Pickup Truck Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
2/14 HB 2617 Mandatory Drug Testing for Drivers Causing Serious Accidents Bill Passed - House (117 - 5)
5/12 HB 2633 Religious Expression at Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 28)
5/06 HB 2677 Real ID Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/19 HB 2677 Real ID Bill Passed - House (51 - 8)
6/26 HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
3/24 HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
2/18 HB 2713 Convicted Criminal DNA Database Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
3/10 HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
2/25 HB 4023 Linking Driving Privileges with Student Performance Bill Passed - House (80 - 15)
12/04 HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
2/19 HB 4092 DNA Testing for Violent Felonies Bill Passed - House (104 - 4)
2/25 HB 4132 Prohibiting Mandatory Employee Participation in Political Events Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
5/08 HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
3/04 HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
2/14 HB 4505 Changes to Driver's License Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 5)
2/21 HB 4675 Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Open Meetings and Public Access Requirements Bill Passed - House (66 - 38)
5/28 HB 5074 Ban Smoking in Places of Employment and Public Places with Exceptions for Casinos, Cigar Bars, and Specialty Tobacco Stores Bill Passed - House (65 - 39)
12/04 HB 5117 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
5/27 HB 5288 Expand Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24)
12/10 HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
4/01 HB 70 Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
1/30 HB 847 Speed Limitations for Vessels Operating on Water Bill Passed - House (236 - 111)
6/17 HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27)
4/21 HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
1/31 HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - House (111 - 58)
6/21 HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
1/29 HB 908 Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions Bill Passed - House (141 - 29)
4/14 HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 44)
4/21 HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11)
4/08 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
4/08 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22)
3/13 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
3/12 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40)
2/27 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
2/19 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
5/13 HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 30)
5/13 HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
3/07 HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 21)
3/10 HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/14 HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
7/09 HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 28)
6/20 HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (293 - 129)
1/15 LB 253 Repealing Motorcycle Helmet Law Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25)
2/22 LB 395 Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
3/27 LD 2012 Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/25 LD 2012 Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children Bill Passed - House (92 - 46)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
2/12 S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
6/12 S 2375 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 9)
6/20 S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (44 - 12)
6/17 S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
7/29 S 2807 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
10/21 S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
5/29 S Amdt 3870 Legislator Financial Disclosures Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 29)
2/12 S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
2/12 S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
7/09 S Amdt 5064 Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66)
2/11 SB 1080 Driver's License Residency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
5/29 SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/06 SB 1150 Voter Identification Requirement Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
4/02 SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - House (88 - 8)
3/12 SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
5/15 SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
6/19 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
5/06 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/06 SB 164 Right to Obtain Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22)
6/17 SB 1686 Restrictions on Public Smoking Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
4/02 SB 174 Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees Bill Failed - House (55 - 107)
2/26 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
2/13 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)

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