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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the election of the governor. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. ELECTION OF GOVERNOR |
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Sec. 2.101. VOTE REQUIRED. (a) To be elected governor at |
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the general election of state and county officers, a candidate must |
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receive a majority of the votes cast. |
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(b) This subchapter applies to the election of governor at |
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the general election for state and county officers and a runoff |
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election is not held. |
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Sec. 2.102. ADOPTION OF PREFERENTIAL VOTING PROCEDURES. |
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(a) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to allow for |
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the election of the governor using a preferential voting system. |
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(b) The system must allow a voter to rank each candidate for |
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governor through a numerical designation from the candidate the |
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voter favors most to the candidate the voter favors least. |
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Sec. 2.103. DETERMINATION OF ELECTION RESULT. (a) If no |
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candidate receives a majority of the votes cast designating the |
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highest favorable ranking for the office of governor, the votes of |
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the candidate receiving the fewest number of votes are reassigned |
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to the candidate ranking next highest in the preference of a voter. |
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(b) If after reassigning votes under Subsection (a) no |
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candidate receives a majority of the votes cast designating the |
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modified highest favorable ranking, the reassignment of a vote to a |
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voter's next most preferred candidate under Subsection (a) |
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continues until one candidate receives a majority. |
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(c) If two or more candidates tie for the least number of |
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votes before a reassignment of votes under Subsection (a) or (b), |
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the tied candidates shall cast lots to determine which candidate's |
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votes are reassigned. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the date on which the |
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constitutional amendment proposed by the 80th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2007, allowing general law to provide for the vote |
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required to be elected governor, takes effect. If that amendment is |
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not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. |