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  89R1336 LRM-D     By: Goodwin H.B. No. 540       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   municipality or independent school district may authorize the use   of preferential voting as provided by this subchapter for a   nonpartisan election of an officer of the 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 subchapter 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 subchapter 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   subchapter applies.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.