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. 31, 2006 | VA | SB 362 | Death Penalty Age Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
Jan. 25, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | SB 253 | Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Feb. 20, 2006 | VA | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
Jan. 25, 2007 | VA | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
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 - Senate (29 - 10) |
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 Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 202 | Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 298 | Banning Smoking Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Feb. 5, 2008 | VA | SB 501 | Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Feb. 11, 2008 | VA | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Feb. 12, 2008 | VA | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
March 13, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | SB 1257 | Background Checks for Gun Show Purchases | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SJ 354 | Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
Feb. 3, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Feb. 19, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | VA | SB 1035 | Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
Jan. 27, 2010 | VA | SB 9 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Jan. 27, 2010 | VA | SB 9 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
Feb. 16, 2010 | VA | SB 334 | Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Feb. 16, 2010 | VA | SB 408 | Gun Regulation Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
March 10, 2010 | VA | HB 505 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
March 10, 2010 | VA | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Jan. 24, 2011 | VA | SB 949 | Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Feb. 3, 2011 | VA | SB 831 | Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Jan. 26, 2012 | VA | SB 464 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 940 | Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 6, 2012 | VA | SB 323 | Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 6, 2012 | VA | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 20, 2012 | VA | HB 48 | Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 20, 2012 | VA | HB 48 | Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | SB 6 | Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 4, 2013 | VA | SB 721 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1/31 | SB 362 | Death Penalty Age Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
1/25 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
2/02 | SB 253 | Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
2/20 | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
1/23 | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
1/23 | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
1/25 | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
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 - Senate (29 - 10) |
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 Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
2/05 | SB 202 | Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
2/05 | SB 298 | Banning Smoking Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
2/05 | SB 501 | Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
2/11 | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
2/12 | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
2/25 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/25 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
3/13 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
1/27 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
1/27 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/05 | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
2/05 | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
2/04 | SB 1257 | Background Checks for Gun Show Purchases | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |
2/24 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
2/09 | SJ 354 | Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19) |
2/09 | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
2/03 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
2/19 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
2/25 | SB 1035 | Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
1/27 | SB 9 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
1/27 | SB 9 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/08 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
2/16 | SB 334 | Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
2/16 | SB 408 | Gun Regulation Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
3/10 | HB 505 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
3/10 | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
1/24 | SB 949 | Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
2/03 | SB 831 | Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
1/26 | SB 464 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
2/27 | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
2/13 | HB 940 | Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
2/06 | SB 323 | Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
2/06 | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
2/20 | HB 48 | Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/20 | HB 48 | Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/14 | SB 6 | Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
2/04 | SB 721 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20) |