Bill Text: TX SB342 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the use of preferential voting in certain elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-13 - Filed [SB342 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB342-Introduced.html
| 89R1336 LRM-D | ||
| By: Eckhardt | S.B. No. 342 | |
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| relating to the use of preferential voting in certain elections. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Subchapter E to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER E. PREFERENTIAL VOTING | ||
| Sec. 2.101. USE OPTIONAL. The governing body of a | ||
| municipality or independent school district may authorize the use | ||
| of preferential voting as provided by this subchapter for a | ||
| nonpartisan election of an officer of the municipality or school | ||
| district, as appropriate, by majority vote. | ||
| Sec. 2.102. ADOPTION OF PREFERENTIAL VOTING PROCEDURES. | ||
| (a) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to allow for | ||
| an election of an office requiring a majority vote using a | ||
| preferential voting system. | ||
| (b) The system must allow a voter to rank each candidate for | ||
| an office through a numerical designation from the candidate the | ||
| voter favors most to the candidate the voter favors least. | ||
| Sec. 2.103. DETERMINATION OF ELECTION RESULT. (a) If no | ||
| candidate receives a majority of the votes cast designating the | ||
| highest favorable ranking for an office, the votes of the candidate | ||
| receiving the fewest number of votes are reassigned to the | ||
| candidate ranking next highest in the preference of a voter. | ||
| (b) If after reassigning votes under Subsection (a) no | ||
| candidate receives a majority of the votes cast designating the | ||
| modified highest favorable ranking, the reassignment of a vote to a | ||
| voter's next most preferred candidate under Subsection (a) | ||
| continues until one candidate receives a majority. | ||
| Sec. 2.104. PRIMARY NOT HELD; FILING PERIOD. (a) A primary | ||
| election is not held for an office to which this subchapter applies. | ||
| (b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the filing | ||
| deadline for an application for a place on the ballot for an office | ||
| to which this subchapter applies that is filled at the general | ||
| election for state and county officers. | ||
| Sec. 2.105. RUNOFF ELECTION NOT HELD. Notwithstanding any | ||
| other law, a runoff election is not held for an office to which this | ||
| subchapter applies. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
