HB 1476

AN ACT relating to a ballot option to not vote for any candidate.

House Bill • Swanson

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Passed Both Chambers

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Signed into Law

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

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What This Bill Does

Adds a "None of the Above" option to Texas election ballots, allowing voters to explicitly choose not to support any candidate in a given race. While this option will be printed on the ballot, votes for "None of the Above" will not count toward determining the winner or affect the election's outcome. The new ballot option would give voters an additional way to express dissatisfaction with candidates without abstaining from voting entirely.

Subject Areas

SECRETARY OF STATE Elections--Registration & Suffrage

Bill Text

relating to a ballot option to not vote for any candidate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 52, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 52.0685 to read as follows:
Sec. 52.0685.  OPTION TO AFFIRMATIVELY CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE.
(a) Voters shall be given the opportunity to select "None of the
above" instead of voting for a candidate appearing on the ballot or
the list of write-in candidates for each race.
(b)  A vote under this section does not count for the purpose
of determining which candidate received a majority of votes.
(c)  The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and
manner of placing the option "None of the above" on the ballot.
SECTION 2.  Sections 52.070(a) and (b), Election Code, are
(a)  A shape for voting shall be printed to the left of:
(1)  each candidate's name on a ballot; and
(2)  the option "None of the above" for each office to
(b)  Immediately below "OFFICIAL BALLOT," the following
instruction shall be printed: "Vote for the candidate of your
choice in each race by placing an 'X' or filling in the shape beside
the candidate's name or beside "None of the above"."
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.