Bill Text: TX SB537 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the use of preferential voting in certain elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-11 - Referred to State Affairs [SB537 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB537-Introduced.html
87R4499 ADM-D | ||
By: Eckhardt | S.B. No. 537 |
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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 county, | ||
municipality, or independent school district may authorize the use | ||
of preferential voting as provided by this chapter for the election | ||
of an officer of the county, 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 chapter 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 chapter 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 | ||
chapter applies. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |