Bill Text: TX SB54 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 54 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the use of preferential voting in certain elections.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-09 - Filed [SB54 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB54-Introduced.html

	87S20471 SMT-D

	By: Eckhardt, et al.	S.B. No. 54



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	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 on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.