Bills to be Supported in the 2023 Texas Legislative Session

In 2023 during the 88th Legislative Session, Ranked Choice Voting for Texas will advocate for several bills:

Summary:
The right to vote is a right guaranteed to all eligible Americans. This bill prevents the disenfranchisement of military and overseas voters by allowing the voter to rank their choices in a potential runoff at the same time they cast their standard ballot. Avoiding the mailing of a second runoff ballot would not only protect their votes but also respect the use of taxpayer money. Ultimately, by using ranked choice voting this bill enhances the election and runoff processes for military and overseas voters so that their votes count.
Legislative History:
The House bill (HB740) was passed by the full House in 2021 but no action was taken in the Senate before the 2021 legislative session ended. The bill will be reintroduced in 2023.

Summary:
Currently, when a vacancy occurs there is no party primary. All individuals running for the position, regardless of party affiliation, appear on a single ballot in a Special Election. If there are many candidates, as often occurs, frequently no candidate receives a majority of the votes. A runoff election must be held at a future date between the top two candidates. Historically, voter turnout for runoff elections is low. Therefore, the two candidates that are in the runoff, and the ultimate winner, may be elected with marginal voter support.

Summary:
Texans value the freedom of choice and the right to self-government. It's an idea rooted in the belief that local residents and governments have a better grasp of what is best for their communities and citizens. This bill would enable local governments or school districts the choice to conduct their elections using ranked choice voting (RCV). It would not mandate RCV but provides Texans the opportunity to test or fully adopt this method of voting in their local jurisdictions.

Summary:
This bill eliminates not only the additional time and expense of primary runoff elections, but also the wasted votes of early or mail-in voters that occurs when candidates drop out before election day. Ultimately, the use of ranked choice voting in primary elections will save Texans money and provide voters with increased confidence in selecting their preferred nominees for the general election by ensuring their votes count, even with a large number of similar candidates.