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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 11, 2011 NV AB 211 Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
Feb. 2, 2011 VA SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 1, 2011 IA HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
March 2, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 28)
Sept. 2, 2011 CA AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 25)
Aug. 22, 2011 CA AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 26)
Feb. 16, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
April 11, 2011 MD HB 235 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 1, 2011 TX Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
Sept. 13, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
Sept. 12, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
Feb. 18, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Aug. 30, 2011 CA AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
July 14, 2011 CA AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 11, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - House (31 - 19)
July 5, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
June 4, 2011 CT HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
April 25, 2011 NV SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
April 14, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
May 21, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
June 29, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 19, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
Jan. 27, 2011 WY SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Jan. 28, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
Feb. 23, 2011 MD SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 23, 2011 MT HB 516 Limiting Local Ordinances Bill Passed - House (62 - 37)
Feb. 28, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
March 8, 2011 AZ SB 1188 Preference for Married Couples in Adoption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
March 24, 2011 CO SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 26, 2011 MD HB 235 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Bill Passed - House (86 - 52)
April 7, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
April 14, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 18, 2011 NV AB 211 Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression Bill Passed - House (29 - 13)
April 25, 2011 NV SB 331 Prohibits Sex and Gender Identity Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
May 11, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
Jan. 24, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
May 19, 2011 CT HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - House (77 - 62)
May 20, 2011 TN SB 49 Prohibits Instruction of Non-Heterosexual Human Sexuality in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
May 23, 2011 NV SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - House (29 - 13)
June 15, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
March 2, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
June 8, 2011 ME LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (11 - 23)
June 7, 2011 ME LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 81)
March 9, 2011 MD Amendment 223923 Civil Marriage Protection Act Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 72)
April 25, 2011 NV SB 180 Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/11 AB 211 Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
2/02 SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/01 HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
3/02 HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 28)
9/02 AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 25)
8/22 AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 26)
2/16 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
4/11 HB 235 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/01 Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
9/13 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
9/12 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
2/18 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
8/30 AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
7/14 AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/11 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - House (31 - 19)
7/05 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - House (50 - 26)
6/04 HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
4/25 SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
4/14 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
5/21 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
6/24 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
6/29 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/19 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
1/27 SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
1/28 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
2/23 SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/23 HB 516 Limiting Local Ordinances Bill Passed - House (62 - 37)
2/28 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
3/08 SB 1188 Preference for Married Couples in Adoption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
3/24 SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/26 HB 235 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Bill Passed - House (86 - 52)
4/07 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
4/14 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/18 AB 211 Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression Bill Passed - House (29 - 13)
4/25 SB 331 Prohibits Sex and Gender Identity Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
5/11 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
1/24 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
5/19 HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - House (77 - 62)
5/20 SB 49 Prohibits Instruction of Non-Heterosexual Human Sexuality in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
5/23 SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - House (29 - 13)
6/15 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
3/02 HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
6/08 LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (11 - 23)
6/07 LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 81)
3/09 Amendment 223923 Civil Marriage Protection Act Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 72)
4/25 SB 180 Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)

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