Texas would move most elections to one November date, and runoffs to Tuesdays
What it does
Texas would hold general and special elections on one date: the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, with exceptions written into the election code. Runoff elections would move to a Tuesday picked by the secretary of state instead of a Saturday, and a county would have to sign a contract with any political subdivision that asks it to run an election, using a cost schedule both sides agree on. Any local government that holds its officer elections on another date would have to switch to the November date by December 31, 2027, and no election could be held within 30 days before or after the general election, the general primary, or a runoff primary, with certain exceptions listed in the bill. The changes would take effect September 1, 2027.
What it means for your community
Voting would happen on fewer days, so campaigns and voter planning would concentrate on one date each year. Local races for city council, school board, and other offices would move onto the same November ballot as state races, so one trip to the polls could cover more offices. Your county elections office would have to put a written contract and an agreed cost schedule in place whenever a city, school district, or other local government asks it to run an election. The 30-day rule would also push some special elections to the next uniform date instead of holding them right before or after a primary or the November general election.
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