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
Dec. 28, 2012 National HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23)
Nov. 14, 2012 National S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
Oct. 17, 2012 PA HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Aug. 2, 2012 National S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
June 29, 2012 PA HB 254 Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
June 27, 2012 DE HB 333 Authorizes Online Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
June 25, 2012 NJ A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
June 21, 2012 National S Amdt 2372 Prohibits the EPA from Conducting Aerial Surveillance of Agricultural Operations Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
June 6, 2012 NH HB 145 Authorizes Individuals to Record Law Enforcement Officers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
May 31, 2012 IL HB 5440 Establishes a 5 Percent Fee on Satellite TV Companies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
May 8, 2012 IA SF 2344 Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
May 3, 2012 OH HB 99 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
May 2, 2012 MI SB 619 Cyber Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 3, 2012 AZ HB 2348 Prohibits Cell Phone Use by Teens While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 23, 2012 ID S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
March 21, 2012 AZ HB 2757 Authorizes Electronic Billboards Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 19, 2012 SD SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 15, 2012 MI SB 756 Prohibits Teens from Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 15, 2012 ID S 1358 Amends Bullying Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 14, 2012 NY S 6733 Expands DNA Database to Include Misdemeanors Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
March 13, 2012 IA SF 2275 Authorizes Internet Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 8, 2012 AZ SB 1338 Requires Online Retailers to Pay Sales Taxes Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 20)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 187 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 21, 2012 ID S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
Feb. 15, 2012 AK HB 311 Amends Requirements for Electronic Campaign Finance Disclosure Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 2)
Feb. 15, 2012 UT SB 112 Cable TV Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
Feb. 7, 2012 UT SB 112 Cable TV Tax Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 16)
Jan. 31, 2012 NY S 5560-A Requires DNA Testing of All Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/28 HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23)
11/14 S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
10/17 HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
8/02 S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
6/29 HB 254 Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
6/27 HB 333 Authorizes Online Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
6/25 A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
6/21 S Amdt 2372 Prohibits the EPA from Conducting Aerial Surveillance of Agricultural Operations Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
6/06 HB 145 Authorizes Individuals to Record Law Enforcement Officers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
5/31 HB 5440 Establishes a 5 Percent Fee on Satellite TV Companies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
5/08 SF 2344 Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
5/03 HB 99 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
5/02 SB 619 Cyber Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/03 HB 2348 Prohibits Cell Phone Use by Teens While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/23 S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
3/21 HB 2757 Authorizes Electronic Billboards Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/19 SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/15 SB 756 Prohibits Teens from Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/15 S 1358 Amends Bullying Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/14 S 6733 Expands DNA Database to Include Misdemeanors Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
3/13 SF 2275 Authorizes Internet Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/08 SB 1338 Requires Online Retailers to Pay Sales Taxes Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 20)
3/07 HB 187 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/21 S 1274 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
2/15 HB 311 Amends Requirements for Electronic Campaign Finance Disclosure Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 2)
2/15 SB 112 Cable TV Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
2/07 SB 112 Cable TV Tax Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 16)
1/31 S 5560-A Requires DNA Testing of All Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10)

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