H.B. No. 1406 proposes significant amendments to the Texas Election Code to implement a preferential voting system in primary elections. The bill introduces new legal language that allows for the reassignment of votes from the candidate with the fewest votes to the next preferred candidate until one candidate secures a majority. This change aims to streamline the nomination process and eliminate the need for runoff elections. Additionally, the bill removes references to runoff primaries in various sections of the Election Code, thereby focusing solely on general primary elections and modernizing the electoral process in Texas.

The bill also includes provisions for electronic submission of voting history, updates the responsibilities of county election officers, and refines procedures for conducting joint primary elections. It mandates that county chairs update candidate notations after each general primary election and clarifies financial reporting requirements related to primary election expenses. Key changes include the requirement for vendors to bill the Secretary of State directly for election services and the establishment of new deadlines for independent candidates to file applications for ballot placement. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to elections ordered after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 18.069, Election Code 31.093, Election Code 32.091, Election Code 41.001, Election Code 43.007, Election Code 85.001, Election Code 85.062, Election Code 85.072, Election Code 123.033, Election Code 142.006, Election Code 142.008, Election Code 142.009, Election Code 162.004, Election Code 162.005, Election Code 163.004, Election Code 171.022, Election Code 172.004, Election Code 172.061, Election Code 172.126, Election Code 172.127, Election Code 173.083, Election Code 173.0833, Election Code 173.084, Election Code 202.007, Election Code 232.008, Election Code 232.048, Election Code 255.002 (Election Code 85, Election Code 43, Election Code 163, Election Code 32, Election Code 162, Election Code 173, Election Code 202, Election Code 41, Election Code 142, Election Code 31, Election Code 123, Election Code 171, Election Code 232, Election Code 172, Election Code 18, Election Code 255)