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
Nov. 18, 2014 National S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
Sept. 11, 2014 National S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
Aug. 26, 2014 CA AB 1327 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
June 23, 2014 CA AJR 1 Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
May 23, 2014 OK HJR 1092 Authorizes School Districts To Issue Bonds For Improvements in Building Safety Conference Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 25)
May 23, 2014 OK HJR 1033 Authorizes Bonds for Capitol Repairs Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 8)
May 22, 2014 IL SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
May 22, 2014 IL SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
May 16, 2014 MO HJR 72 Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4)
May 13, 2014 MN HF 3169 Establishes a Legislative Salary Council Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25)
April 7, 2014 NE LR 41CA Authorizes Gambling on Past Horse Races Resolution Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 3, 2014 FL SJR 1188 Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
April 3, 2014 NE LR 41CA Authorizes Gambling on Past Horse Races Resolution Failed - Senate (28 - 19)
March 20, 2014 GA SR 415 Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 13)
March 17, 2014 NY A 2597A Establishes the New York DREAM Fund Commission Bill Failed - Senate (30 - 29)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1001 Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2014 GA SR 415 Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax Resolution Passed - Senate (42 - 11)
Feb. 19, 2014 AZ SB 1062 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 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)
Feb. 17, 2014 GA SB 318 Authorizes Bars to Sell Alcohol on Certain Holiday Weekends Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 20)
Feb. 14, 2014 NM SJR 13 Increases the Minimum Wage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
Feb. 12, 2014 SD SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 6, 2014 KY SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2014 TN SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
Feb. 4, 2014 KY SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/18 S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
9/11 S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
8/26 AB 1327 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
6/23 AJR 1 Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
5/23 HJR 1092 Authorizes School Districts To Issue Bonds For Improvements in Building Safety Conference Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 25)
5/23 HJR 1033 Authorizes Bonds for Capitol Repairs Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 8)
5/22 SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
5/22 SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
5/16 HJR 72 Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4)
5/13 HF 3169 Establishes a Legislative Salary Council Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25)
4/07 LR 41CA Authorizes Gambling on Past Horse Races Resolution Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/03 SJR 1188 Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
4/03 LR 41CA Authorizes Gambling on Past Horse Races Resolution Failed - Senate (28 - 19)
3/20 SR 415 Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 13)
3/17 A 2597A Establishes the New York DREAM Fund Commission Bill Failed - Senate (30 - 29)
3/05 HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
3/05 HJR 1001 Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 10)
2/24 SR 415 Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax Resolution Passed - Senate (42 - 11)
2/19 SB 1062 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 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)
2/17 SB 318 Authorizes Bars to Sell Alcohol on Certain Holiday Weekends Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 20)
2/14 SJR 13 Increases the Minimum Wage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
2/12 SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/06 SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
2/05 SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
2/04 SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)

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