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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 2, 2010 | NY | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 612 | Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
April 23, 2010 | WI | AB 720 | Statewide Smoking Ban Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 34) |
Feb. 17, 2010 | NH | CACR 28 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 135) |
Feb. 4, 2010 | MA | H 4466 | Expanding Driving Regulations | Bill Passed - House (146 - 9) |
March 24, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
March 1, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
March 29, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
March 26, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
Feb. 9, 2010 | NM | HB 10 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
March 4, 2010 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 20) |
March 4, 2010 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
Feb. 2, 2010 | IN | HB 1131 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
Feb. 17, 2010 | SD | HB 1178 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
April 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 22) |
March 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
Feb. 17, 2010 | NH | HB 1590 | Repealing Same-Sex Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 109) |
Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
May 8, 2010 | KS | HB 2130 | Amending Seat Belt Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
Feb. 25, 2010 | KS | HB 2221 | Ban on Smoking in Certain Public Places | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
May 10, 2010 | TN | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
April 1, 2010 | KY | HB 415 | Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10) |
Feb. 4, 2010 | KY | HB 43 | Ban on Texting and Underage Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (80 - 16) |
April 20, 2010 | MI | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33) |
March 25, 2010 | MI | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
April 29, 2010 | HI | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 20) |
Jan. 22, 2010 | HI | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | HB 53 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | Bill Passed - House (88 - 9) |
April 21, 2010 | IL | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
March 18, 2010 | IL | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
Feb. 10, 2010 | WY | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
Feb. 10, 2010 | KY | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
May 6, 2010 | LA | HB 863 | Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving | Bill Failed - House (49 - 41) |
March 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33) |
March 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12) |
Feb. 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
May 21, 2010 | OK | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16) |
May 18, 2010 | OK | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24) |
May 24, 2010 | OK | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 2) |
May 18, 2010 | OK | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10) |
Feb. 9, 2010 | IA | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
April 6, 2010 | ME | LD 1611 | State Prison Solitary Confinement Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
3/02 | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
4/15 | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
6/03 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
8/31 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
8/27 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
4/15 | AB 612 | Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
4/23 | AB 720 | Statewide Smoking Ban Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 34) |
2/17 | CACR 28 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 135) |
2/04 | H 4466 | Expanding Driving Regulations | Bill Passed - House (146 - 9) |
3/24 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
3/01 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
3/29 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
3/26 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
2/09 | HB 10 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
3/04 | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 20) |
3/04 | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
2/02 | HB 1131 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
2/17 | HB 1178 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
4/01 | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 22) |
3/01 | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
7/10 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
7/07 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
2/17 | HB 1590 | Repealing Same-Sex Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 109) |
11/15 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
10/14 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
5/08 | HB 2130 | Amending Seat Belt Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
2/25 | HB 2221 | Ban on Smoking in Certain Public Places | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
5/10 | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
10/05 | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
4/01 | HB 415 | Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10) |
2/04 | HB 43 | Ban on Texting and Underage Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (80 - 16) |
4/20 | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33) |
3/25 | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
4/29 | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 20) |
1/22 | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
2/10 | HB 53 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | Bill Passed - House (88 - 9) |
4/21 | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
3/18 | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
2/10 | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
2/10 | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
5/06 | HB 863 | Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving | Bill Failed - House (49 - 41) |
3/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33) |
3/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12) |
2/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
5/21 | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16) |
5/18 | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24) |
5/24 | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 2) |
5/18 | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10) |
2/09 | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
4/06 | LD 1611 | State Prison Solitary Confinement Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67) |