89R983 PRL-D By: Cain, et al. H.B. No. 817 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the determination of a majority vote in certain elections. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 2.0215 to read as follows: Sec. 2.0215. DETERMINATION OF MAJORITY VOTE. (a) In this section, "preferential voting system" means a voting system which permits a voter to rank each candidate through a numerical designation from the candidate the voter favors most to the candidate the voter favors least. (b) In an election requiring a majority vote to be elected to a public office, a candidate must receive more than half of the votes as originally cast. A majority may not be determined by using a preferential voting system to reassign votes. SECTION 2. Section 2.022(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Sections 2.0215, 2.023, 2.025, and 2.028 supersede a law outside this subchapter to the extent of any conflict. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.