TX HB817

Requires that in elections where a majority vote is needed to win public office, a candidate must receive more than half of the votes as originally cast

Prohibits the use of preferential voting systems (ranked-choice voting) to reassign votes when determining whether a candidate has achieved a majority

Defines "preferential voting system" as a voting system that allows voters to rank candidates numerically from most to least favored

Establishes that the new majority vote determination rules supersede any conflicting laws outside the Election Code subchapter

Takes effect September 1, 2025