The bill, S.B. No. 341, introduces a requirement for preferential voting in special elections held to fill vacancies in offices that require a majority vote. It amends the Election Code by adding several new sections that outline the procedures for implementing this voting system. Voters will be able to rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate receives a majority of the highest favorable rankings, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated, and their votes will be reassigned to the next preferred candidate. This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority.

Additionally, the bill specifies that no primary elections will be held for offices subject to this preferential voting system, and the Secretary of State will set the filing deadlines for candidates. It also states that runoff elections will not be conducted for these offices. The bill repeals certain existing provisions of the Election Code that are inconsistent with these new rules. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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