Bill > SB310

This bill adds a new section to the Texas Election Code that specifically defines and restricts how a majority vote is determined in elections. The bill defines a "preferential voting system" as a method that allows voters to rank candidates numerically from most to least preferred. The key provision prohibits using preferential voting systems to reassign votes when determining whether a candidate has won a majority. Under the bill, a candidate must receive more than half of the votes as they were originally cast to be considered elected to a public or political party office or to receive a party's nomination. This means traditional vote-counting methods must be used, and ranked-choice or similar alternative voting methods cannot be used to redistribute votes after the initial count. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and its provisions will supersede any conflicting laws outside the current election code subchapter.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB310