TX HB465

Requires early voting clerks to provide mail-in voters with a runoff election ballot and a second carrier envelope along with their general election ballot materials

Establishes a preferential voting system for runoff elections where mail-in voters can rank candidates numerically from most to least favored

Runoff ballots from mail-in voters are only counted if returned at the same time and in the same manner as the general election ballot

If a runoff election occurs, the voter's ballot is opened and their vote is assigned to whichever runoff candidate they ranked highest

Requires the Secretary of State to create detailed instructions on the preferential voting system, which county clerks must post online and mail to voters receiving runoff ballots

Takes effect January 1, 2026