Bill > SB342

This bill introduces a new optional preferential voting system for nonpartisan municipal and independent school district elections in Texas. Under this system, local governing bodies can choose to implement ranked-choice voting, where voters rank candidates in order of preference from most to least favored. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those votes are redistributed to voters' next-highest ranked candidates. This process continues until one candidate achieves a majority. The bill eliminates primary elections and runoff elections for these offices, and requires the secretary of state to establish procedures for implementing the preferential voting system and set filing deadlines for candidates. Municipalities and independent school districts would have the discretion to adopt this voting method, making it voluntary rather than mandatory. The new voting system would take effect on September 1, 2025, giving local jurisdictions time to prepare for potential implementation.