Relating to a ballot option to not vote for any candidate or not vote for or against a proposition.

HB 496 would add a "None of the Above" option to Texas ballots for both candidate races and propositions. Voters could select this option instead of voting for any candidate or measure, though such votes would not count toward determining election winners. The bill requires the Secretary of State to design the ballot format for this option and amends election code sections to include it in ballot instructions and layout. This is a procedural change to ballot design, not a policy affecting specific groups or outcomes.