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
Jan. 28, 2014 ME LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 17, 2014 IN HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 17, 2014 IN HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Jan. 28, 2014 IN SB 229 Amends Firearm Buy-Back Program Laws Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Feb. 4, 2014 SD SB 75 Prohibits a Local Government From Establishing a Dog Breed-Specific Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 4, 2014 KY SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 4, 2014 KY SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 5, 2014 IL SB 1227 Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
Feb. 13, 2014 TN SB 1496 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Carry a Handgun in Public Parks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2014 MI SB 319 Amends the Sentencing Procedure for Certain Juvenile Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2014 TN SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2014 TN SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2014 TN SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
Feb. 6, 2014 KY SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 6, 2014 KY SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 6, 2014 KY SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 20, 2014 MO SB 613 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 12, 2014 SD SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2014 SD SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 14, 2014 NM SJR 13 Increases the Minimum Wage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
Feb. 25, 2014 KY SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2014 KY SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 17, 2014 GA SB 318 Authorizes Bars to Sell Alcohol on Certain Holiday Weekends Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/28 LD 1254 Requires State Institutions to Purchase Foods Produced in Maine Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/17 HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/17 HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
1/28 SB 229 Amends Firearm Buy-Back Program Laws Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
2/04 SB 75 Prohibits a Local Government From Establishing a Dog Breed-Specific Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/04 SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/04 SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/05 SB 1227 Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
2/13 SB 1496 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Carry a Handgun in Public Parks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/12 SB 319 Amends the Sentencing Procedure for Certain Juvenile Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/05 SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
2/05 SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
2/05 SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
2/06 SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
2/06 SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
2/06 SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
2/20 SB 613 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/12 SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/12 SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/14 SJR 13 Increases the Minimum Wage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
3/05 HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
3/05 HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
2/25 SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/25 SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/17 SB 318 Authorizes Bars to Sell Alcohol on Certain Holiday Weekends Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 20)

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