The bill, S.B. No. 342, introduces a new subchapter to the Texas Election Code that allows for the implementation of preferential voting in nonpartisan elections for municipal or independent school district officers. The governing body of these entities can authorize the use of this voting system by a majority vote. The bill outlines the procedures for conducting elections using preferential voting, which enables voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of the highest favorable rankings, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are reassigned to the next preferred candidate until a majority is achieved.

Additionally, the bill specifies that no primary elections or runoff elections will be held for offices governed by this subchapter. The Secretary of State is tasked with establishing the filing deadlines for candidates seeking a place on the ballot for these elections. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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