Bill > HB817

This bill adds a new section to the Texas Election Code that clarifies the definition and determination of a majority vote in elections. Specifically, the bill defines a "preferential voting system" as a method that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. The legislation explicitly states that in elections requiring a majority vote to win, a candidate must receive more than half of the votes as they were originally cast, and prohibits using preferential voting systems to reassign or redistribute votes after the initial count. The bill amends the existing Election Code to include this new provision and ensures that the new section will supersede any conflicting laws in other parts of the election code. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, giving election officials and jurisdictions time to prepare for the new voting requirements.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB817