The bill, H.B. No. 817, introduces a new section to the Texas Election Code that clarifies the determination of a majority vote in elections for public office. It defines a "preferential voting system" as one that allows voters to rank candidates from most to least favored. The bill stipulates that in elections requiring a majority vote, a candidate must receive more than half of the votes as originally cast, and it explicitly states that a majority cannot be determined by reassigning votes through a preferential voting system.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 2.022(b) of the Election Code to indicate that the newly added Section 2.0215, along with other specified sections, will take precedence over any conflicting laws outside this subchapter. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 2.022 (Election Code 2)