Recall election
Encyclopedia
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended. Recalls, which are initiated when sufficient voters sign a petition, have a history dating back to the ancient Athenian democracy and is a feature of several contemporary constitutions.
has provisions for recall of elected officials. Recall may either be proposed by 20% of delegates of their municipal assembly or 20% of voters in their electoral district.
allow them:
The possibility of recall referenda (together with the popular election of executives, the initiative
and the legislative referendum) was introduced into several cantonal constitutions after the 1860s in the course of a broad movement for democratic reform. The instrument has never been of any practical importance – the few attempts at recall so far have failed, usually because the required number of signatures was not collected – and it was abolished in the course of constitutional revisions in Aargau
(1980), Baselland (1984) and Lucerne
(2007). But the possibility of recalling municipal executives was newly introduced in Ticino in 2011, with 59% of voters in favor, as a reaction to the perceived problem of squabbling and dysfunctional municipal governments.
, issued at the outset of the Philadelphia Convention
of 1787, proposed to pair recall with rotation in office and to apply these dual principles to the lower house of the national legislature. The recall was rejected by the Constitutional Convention. However, the anti-Federalists used the lack of recall provision as a weapon in the ratification debates.
Several states proposed adopting a recall for US senators in the years immediately following the adoption of the Constitution. However, it did not pass.
Along with the initiative
, the referendum
, and the direct primary, the recall election was one of the major electoral reform
s advocated by leaders of the Progressive
movement in the United States
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although it was initially proposed in William S. U'Ren
's Oregon newspaper. Recall elections do not take place at the federal level. The majority of states allow recall elections in local jurisdictions, but only eighteen states permit recall elections to remove state officials and a nineteenth state, Illinois, allows it for Governors only.
The modern day father of the recall is considered to be Dr. John Randolph Haynes, who formed the Direct Legislation League of California in 1900. Los Angeles became the first major city to adopt the recall in 1903. http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581
Only two governors have ever been successfully recalled. In 1921, Lynn Frazier
, Governor of North Dakota
, was recalled during a dispute about state-owned industries, and in 2003, Governor Gray Davis
of California
was recalled over the state budget. Additionally, a recall was approved against Arizona
Governor Evan Mecham
, but he was impeached and convicted before it got on the ballot.
In Alaska
, Georgia
, Kansas
, Minnesota
, Montana
, Rhode Island
, and Washington, specific grounds are required for a recall. Some form of malfeasance or misconduct while in office must be identified by the petitioners. The target may choose to dispute the validity of the grounds in court, and a court then judges whether the allegations in the petition rise to a level where a recall is necessary. In the November 2010 general election, Illinois
passed a referendum
to amend the state constitution to allow a recall in light of ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich's corruption scandal
. In the other eleven states that permit state-wide recall, no grounds are required and recall petitions may be circulated for any reason. However, the target is permitted to submit responses to the stated reasons for recall.
The minimum number of signatures and the time limit to qualify a recall vary between states. In addition, the handling of recalls once they qualify differs. In some states, a recall triggers a simultaneous special election, where the vote on the recall, as well as the vote on the replacement if the recall succeeds, are on the same ballot. In the 2003 California recall election
, over 100 candidates appeared on the replacement portion of the ballot. In other states, a separate special election is held after the target is recalled, or a replacement is appointed by the Governor or some other state authority.
enables the recall of any elected representative, including the President. This provision was used in the Venezuelan recall referendum, 2004, which attempted to remove President Hugo Chavez
:
Officeholders who were recalled
Cuba
The Constitution of CubaConstitution of Cuba
Since attaining its independence from Spain, Cuba has had five constitutions. The current constitution was drafted in 1976 and has since been amended.-1901 Constitution:The 1901 Constitution was Cuba's first as an independent state...
has provisions for recall of elected officials. Recall may either be proposed by 20% of delegates of their municipal assembly or 20% of voters in their electoral district.
Switzerland
While recall referenda are not provided for at the federal level in Switzerland, six cantonsCantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
allow them:
- Bern: Recall of the executive and legislative is possible since 1846. 30,000 signatures (4% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall referendum. There has been one unsuccessful attempt to recall the executive in 1852.
- SchaffhausenSchaffhausenSchaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
: Recall of the executive and legislative is possible since 1876. 1,000 signatures (2% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall referendum. There has been one unsuccessful attempt to recall the executive in 2000. - SolothurnCanton of SolothurnSolothurn is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the northwest of Switzerland. The capital is Solothurn.-History:The territory of the canton comprises land acquired by the capital...
: Recall of the executive and legislative is possible since 1869. 6,000 signatures (3% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall referendum. There has been one unsuccessful attempt to recall the executive and legislative in 1995. - TicinoTicinoCanton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
: Recall of the executive is possible since 1892. 15,000 signatures (7% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall referendum. There has been one unsuccessful recall attempt in 1942. In addition, recall of municipal executives is possible since 2011. Signatures of 30% of all adult citizens are required to trigger a recall referendum. - ThurgauThurgauThurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
: Recall of the executive and legislative is possible since 1869. 20,000 signatures (13% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall referendum. There have been no recall attempts. - UriÚriÚriis a village and commune in the comitatus of Pest in Hungary....
: Recall of the executive and legislative is possible since 1988. 600 signatures (3% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall referendum. In addition, recall of municipal executives and legislatives is possible since 2011. Signatures of 10% of registered voters are required to trigger a recall referendum. There have been no recall attempts either at the cantonal or municipal levels.
The possibility of recall referenda (together with the popular election of executives, the initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
and the legislative referendum) was introduced into several cantonal constitutions after the 1860s in the course of a broad movement for democratic reform. The instrument has never been of any practical importance – the few attempts at recall so far have failed, usually because the required number of signatures was not collected – and it was abolished in the course of constitutional revisions in Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
(1980), Baselland (1984) and Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
(2007). But the possibility of recalling municipal executives was newly introduced in Ticino in 2011, with 59% of voters in favor, as a reaction to the perceived problem of squabbling and dysfunctional municipal governments.
United States
Recall first appeared in Colonial America in the laws of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631. This version of the recall involved one elected body removing another official. During the American Revolution the Articles of Confederation stipulated that state legislatures might recall delegates from the continental congress. According to New York Delegate John Lansing, the power was never exercised by any state. The Virginia PlanVirginia Plan
The Virginia Plan was a proposal by Virginia delegates, for a bicameral legislative branch. The plan was drafted by James Madison while he waited for a quorum to assemble at the Constitutional Convention of 1787...
, issued at the outset of the Philadelphia Convention
Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from...
of 1787, proposed to pair recall with rotation in office and to apply these dual principles to the lower house of the national legislature. The recall was rejected by the Constitutional Convention. However, the anti-Federalists used the lack of recall provision as a weapon in the ratification debates.
Several states proposed adopting a recall for US senators in the years immediately following the adoption of the Constitution. However, it did not pass.
Along with the initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
, the referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
, and the direct primary, the recall election was one of the major electoral reform
Electoral reform
Electoral reform is change in electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results. That can include reforms of:...
s advocated by leaders of the Progressive
Progressive Era
The Progressive Era in the United States was a period of social activism and political reform that flourished from the 1890s to the 1920s. One main goal of the Progressive movement was purification of government, as Progressives tried to eliminate corruption by exposing and undercutting political...
movement in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although it was initially proposed in William S. U'Ren
William S. U'Ren
William Simon U'Ren was the father of Oregon's Initiative process. A progressive during the turn of the 20th century, he was instrumental in getting initiative, recall and referendum included in Oregon's government....
's Oregon newspaper. Recall elections do not take place at the federal level. The majority of states allow recall elections in local jurisdictions, but only eighteen states permit recall elections to remove state officials and a nineteenth state, Illinois, allows it for Governors only.
The modern day father of the recall is considered to be Dr. John Randolph Haynes, who formed the Direct Legislation League of California in 1900. Los Angeles became the first major city to adopt the recall in 1903. http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581
Only two governors have ever been successfully recalled. In 1921, Lynn Frazier
Lynn Frazier
Lynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office...
, Governor of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, was recalled during a dispute about state-owned industries, and in 2003, Governor Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was recalled over the state budget. Additionally, a recall was approved against Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
Governor Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
, but he was impeached and convicted before it got on the ballot.
In Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and Washington, specific grounds are required for a recall. Some form of malfeasance or misconduct while in office must be identified by the petitioners. The target may choose to dispute the validity of the grounds in court, and a court then judges whether the allegations in the petition rise to a level where a recall is necessary. In the November 2010 general election, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
passed a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
to amend the state constitution to allow a recall in light of ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich's corruption scandal
Rod Blagojevich corruption charges
Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois, is an American politician under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2005 for corruption. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris were charged with corruption by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald...
. In the other eleven states that permit state-wide recall, no grounds are required and recall petitions may be circulated for any reason. However, the target is permitted to submit responses to the stated reasons for recall.
The minimum number of signatures and the time limit to qualify a recall vary between states. In addition, the handling of recalls once they qualify differs. In some states, a recall triggers a simultaneous special election, where the vote on the recall, as well as the vote on the replacement if the recall succeeds, are on the same ballot. In the 2003 California recall election
California recall election, 2003
The 2003 California gubernatorial recall election was a special election permitted under California state law. It resulted in voters replacing incumbent Democratic Governor Gray Davis with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. The recall effort spanned the latter half of 2003...
, over 100 candidates appeared on the replacement portion of the ballot. In other states, a separate special election is held after the target is recalled, or a replacement is appointed by the Governor or some other state authority.
Successful recalls
- 1911 recall of Hiram GillHiram GillHiram C. Gill was an American lawyer and two-time Seattle mayor, identified with the "open city" politics that advocated toleration of prostitution, alcohol, and gambling.-Rise:...
, mayor of Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country... - 1916 recall of J. W. RobinsonJ. W. Robinson (Boise mayor)Jeremiah W. Robinson served as mayor of Boise, Idaho, from 1915 to 1916.Robinson was the subject of a successful recall election on June 1, 1916. He was succeeded by S. H. Hays.- Early Life :...
, mayor of Boise, IdahoBoise, IdahoBoise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,... - 1921 recall of Lynn FrazierLynn FrazierLynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office...
, governor of North DakotaGovernor of North DakotaThe Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The... - 1983 recall of Michigan state senators Phil Mastin and David Serotkin due to their support for a state income tax hike. Loss of these two Democratic lawmakers, along with two special elections won by Republicans, flipped the state senate to GOP control, where it has remained ever since (as of September 2011.)
- 1987 recall of Mike BoyleMike BoyleMike Boyle is a former mayor of Omaha, Nebraska and is a current member of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners...
, mayor of Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, NebraskaOmaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. - 1987 recall of James HolleyJames W. Holley, IIIJames W. Holley, III is an American politician and retired dental surgeon. Holley served two terms as mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia. Both terms ended with his being recalled from office, making him the only known politician in American history to be twice recalled.-Early life:After graduating...
, mayor of Portsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S... - 1994 recall of officials in River Vale, New JerseyRiver Vale, New JerseyRiver Vale is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 9,659. The community was ranked #29 on the 100 Best Places to Live 2007 survey published by CNN/Money magazine....
: Mayor Walter Jones, Councilwoman Patricia Geier, and Councilman Bernard Salmon - 1995 recall of California State AssemblyCalifornia State AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
man Paul HorcherPaul HorcherPaul V. Horcher is an American politician from California and a former member of the Republican Party.-Early career:A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Horcher practiced law before joining the Diamond Bar Municipal Advisory council in 1982... - 1995 recall of California State AssemblyCalifornia State AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
Speaker Doris AllenDoris Allen (politician)Doris J. Allen served in the California Assembly from 1982 to 1995, representing part of Orange County, and as Speaker of that body from June 5 to September 14, 1995, before being recalled from office.Before entering politics, she owned a successful household lighting store... - 1996 recall of Wisconsin State Senator George PetakGeorge PetakGeorge Petak is a Republican Wisconsin politician.Born in Warren, Ohio, Petak graduated from Kent State University. He moved to Racine, Wisconsin, where he was a quality control manager. Petak was elected to the Racine School Board. In 1990, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate...
- 2002 recall of Woodrow StanleyWoodrow StanleyWoodrow Stanley, a Democratic Party politician, is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 34th District. He was a former mayor of Flint that was recalled from office in 2002.- Early life :...
, mayor of Flint, MichiganFlint, MichiganFlint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. - 2002 recall of multiple Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, elected county officials including Executive F. Thomas AmentTom AmentFrancis Thomas Ament , a United States politician, was the County Executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin from 1992 to 2002....
(resigned before election); Board Chair Karen Ordinans; and Board Supervisors Penny Podell, LeAnn Launstein, David Jasenski, Kathy Arciszewski, James McGuigan, and Linda Ryan. All were recalled due to a retirement pension controversy. - 2003 recall of Gray DavisGray DavisJoseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
, governor of CaliforniaGovernor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced... - 2003 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Gary GeorgeGary George (Wisconsin politician)Gary George , was a Wisconsin Democrat legislator and politician.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, George graduated from Marquette University High School, and University of Wisconsin–Madison and received his law degree from University of Michigan in 1979. Gary George ran against Republican James...
- 2005 recall of James E. WestJames E. West (politician)James Elton "Jim" West was an American politician. In 2005, while Mayor of Spokane, Washington, he was the target of allegations of the sexual abuse of boys twenty years earlier. These allegations became public after West became a target of a sting operation conducted by his hometown newspaper,...
, mayor of Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. - 2006 recall of Neil Marko, mayor of Roosevelt, New JerseyRoosevelt, New JerseyRoosevelt was originally called Jersey Homesteads, and was created during the Great Depression as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal. The town was home to a cooperative farming and manufacturing project...
. - 2008 recall of Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, mayor of Arlington, OregonArlington, OregonArlington is a city in Gilliam County, Oregon, United States. The account of how this city received its name varies: one tradition claims it was named after the lawyer Nathan Arlington Cornish; another tradition claims that the Southern inhabitants of this city had enough clout to rename the city...
. - 2010 recall of James HolleyJames W. Holley, IIIJames W. Holley, III is an American politician and retired dental surgeon. Holley served two terms as mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia. Both terms ended with his being recalled from office, making him the only known politician in American history to be twice recalled.-Early life:After graduating...
, mayor of Portsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
. - 2011 recall of Carlos AlvarezCarlos Alvarez (mayor)Carlos Alvarez is a Cuban American politician, and the former mayor of Miami-Dade County. He was first elected mayor in 2004, and re-elected in 2008. His mayoralty ended in March 2011 after a recall election...
, mayor of Miami-Dade County, FloridaMiami-Dade County, FloridaMiami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
. - 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Randy HopperRandy HopperRandal B. "Randy" Hopper is a former Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 18th District from 2009 until losing his seat to Jessica King in a 2011 recall election. The 18th District includes the cities of Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Waupun....
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Dan KapankeDan KapankeDaniel E. Kapanke is a former Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 32nd District from 2004 until losing his seat to Jennifer Shilling in the 2011 recall elections.-Early life, education and career:...
- 2011 recall of Neal Knight, mayor of Cornelius, OregonCornelius, OregonCornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 10,895 residents.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and city councilors Mari Gottwald and Jamie Minshall, less than a year after their election, due to unhappiness over their votes to fire the city manager. - 2011 recall of multiple Killeen, TexasKilleen, TexasKilleen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
elected city officials including Mayor Pro Tem Scott Cosper and four city counsel members. - 2011 recall of Arizona state senatorArizona SenateThe Arizona Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members representing an equal amount of constituencies across the state, with each district having average populations of 219,859 . Members serve two-year terms with...
Russell PearceRussell PearceRussell Pearce was a Republican Arizona State Senator representing Legislative District 18, which covers most of western and central Mesa and small portions of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona, USA until ousted in a November 2011 recall election by Senator-elect Jerry Lewis...
for sponsoring Arizona's SB 1070. - 2011 recall of Michigan Representative Paul ScottPaul H. ScottPaul Scott is an American politician from Grand Blanc, Michigan. A member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, Scott was recalled on November 8, 2011.-Early Life:Scott graducated from Grand Blanc High School in 2000...
Unsuccessful recalls
- 1932 recall election of Wisconsin State Senator Otto MuellerOtto Mueller (Wisconsin politician)Otto Mueller was an American Republican politician and businessman from Wisconsin.-Career:Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, Mueller was a jeweler in Wausau. He served on the Marathon County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate 1927-1933 and 1939-1941.-Notes:...
- 1978 Cleveland Recall Election of Mayor Dennis KucinichDennis KucinichDennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
- 1988 recall of San Francisco Mayor Dianne FeinsteinDianne FeinsteinDianne Goldman Berman Feinstein is the senior U.S. Senator from California. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Senate since 1992. She also served as 38th Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988....
- 2008 recall of California State SenatorCalifornia State SenateThe California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
Jeff DenhamJeff DenhamJeffrey John "Jeff" Denham is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.He previously served two terms in the California State Senate, representing the 12th District, which includes Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Benito and Stanislaus counties. Denham was the second... - 2008 recall of Michigan House of Representatives Speaker Andy DillonAndy DillonAndrew "Andy" Dillon is a Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, to be the state's treasurer...
- In 2009, a petition for the recall of San Jose, California city CouncilSan Jose City CouncilSan Jose City Council is the municipal government of the city of San Jose, California.- 2006 Elections :Primary Election, June 6, 2006Mayor Chuck Reed*Cindy ChavezCouncil District 1Jay JamesPete Constant*Ross Signorino...
member Madison NguyenMadison NguyenMadison Phuong Nguyen is an American politician from California. She has served on the San Jose, California, City Council since September 2005, representing District 7; she was the first Vietnamese American elected to the council.-Early life:...
obtained enough signatures to qualify the recall for the ballot; but the subsequent recall election failed. - 2009 recall of AkronAkron, OhioAkron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
Mayor Don PlusquellicDon PlusquellicDonald L. Plusquellic is the current mayor of Akron, Ohio. First elected in 1987, he became the 59th Mayor of Akron after previously serving 13 years on Akron City Council... - 2010 recall of Mayor Anthony R. SuarezAnthony R. SuarezAnthony R. Suarez is a New Jersey attorney and has served as Mayor of Ridgefield, New Jersey since 2004.-Biography:Suarez was born in Englewood, New Jersey and was raised in Ridgefield. He graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in 1984. He then attended Saint Peter's College in Jersey...
in Ridgefield, New JerseyRidgefield, New JerseyThere were 4,020 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone... - 2011 recall of Omaha NebraskaOmahaOmaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
Mayor Jim SuttleJim SuttleJames H. "Jim" Suttle is the 50th and current mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.-Earlier career:Suttle held the position of vice chairman of the Board of Directors for the Omaha-based engineering and design firm HDR, Inc. He also served as executive vice president and director of corporate development for... - 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Dave HansenDave HansenDave Hansen is a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 30th District since 2001.-Early life and education:...
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Robert CowlesRobert CowlesRobert L. Cowles is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 2nd District since 1987. In August 2011, Cowles faced a recall election, but easily defeated the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, sixty percent to forty percent.-Early life and education:Cowles was born in Green...
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Sheila HarsdorfSheila HarsdorfSheila Harsdorf is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 10th District since 2001. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing District 30 from 1989 to 1999.-Early life, education and career:...
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Luther Olsen
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Alberta DarlingAlberta DarlingAlberta Darling is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 8th District since 1993. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 10th district from 1990 through 1993...
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Robert WirchRobert WirchRobert W. Wirch is a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 22nd district since 1997. He previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1993 through 1997.-Early life, education and career:...
- 2011 recall of Wisconsin State Senator Jim HolperinJim HolperinJim Holperin is a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 12th District in northern Wisconsin since 2008. Previously, he was Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism from 2003 to 2007 and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving the 34th District from 1982...
Unsuccessful attempts to qualify recall elections
- 1967 United States Senator Frank ChurchFrank ChurchFrank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981....
of IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
was the subject of an unsuccessful recall effort. Courts ruled that a federal official is not subject to state recall laws. - 1988 Evan MechamEvan MechamEvan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
, Governor of ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, was scheduled for a recall election on May 17th of that year, after a successful petition drive (301,000 signatures). However, the Supreme Court of Arizona canceled the election, since Mecham had already been impeached and removed from office by the Senate on April 4. - 1992-93 California Governor Pete WilsonPete WilsonPeter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
was targeted for recall by the Bite 'Em Back campaign, which was a grassrootsGrassrootsA grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
effort that came about as a result of a piece by San Jose Mercury NewsSan Jose Mercury NewsThe San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
columnistColumnistA columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
Pat DillonSan Jose Mercury News West MagazineSan Jose Mercury News West Magazine, also referred to as West and West Magazine, was a Sunday magazine published by San Jose Mercury News. Jeffrey Klein served as the magazine's editor-in-chief in 1993, and left that year to become editor-in-chief of Mother Jones. He was replaced by Mercury News...
, in response to the then-ongoing California budgetary crisis. The Bite 'Em Back campaign also intended to recall then-Speaker of the AssemblyCalifornia State AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
Willie L. Brown, and then-President Pro Tem of the state SenateCalifornia State SenateThe California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
, David Roberti. - 2009 Joseph CaoJoseph CaoAnh "Joseph" Quang Cao is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. In April 2011, he announced he will be a candidate for Attorney General of Louisiana in 2011, however in September 2011 he pulled out of the race.He was the first...
U.S. representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional districtLouisiana's 2nd congressional districtLouisiana's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district contains nearly all of the city of New Orleans , and some of its suburbs, including the West Bank portion of Jefferson Parish and South South Kenner.The district is currently represented...
, was determined to inelligble for recall as per his status as a FederalFederal government of the United StatesThe federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
office holder. - 2009 a petition failed to garner sufficient signatures to oblige an election for recall of Eddie Price III, mayor of Mandeville, LouisianaMandeville, LouisianaMandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,421 in 2008. Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs...
. - 2009 a petition for recall of Stacy Head, New Orleans city councilwoman, likewise failed to gain the requisite number of signatures.
- 2010 there were two unsuccessful recall petitions for Sam Adams mayor of Portland, OR.
- 2010 there was one unsuccessful recall petition for Lisa Poppaw city council member of Fort Collins, CO.
- 2010 there was one unsuccessful recall petition for Antonio VillaraigosaAntonio VillaraigosaAntonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
mayor of Los Angeles, CA. - 2010, a recall proposal aimed at mayor Ron LittlefieldRon LittlefieldRonald C. Littlefield is an American politician and the current mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was elected via a run-off election in 2005 after a long term as a city councilman. He was reelected in 2009...
of Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
failed after a judge of the Hamilton County, TennesseeHamilton County, TennesseeHamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 . Its county seat is Chattanooga....
circuit courtCircuit courtCircuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
ruled that too many of the petition signatures were invalid and that the petitioners had failed to properly adhere to the state's recall law, leaving "pages without dates." - 2011, as part of the Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011Recall elections for nine Wisconsin state senators were held during the summer of 2011; one was held on July 19 and six on August 9, with two more held on August 16. Voters attempted to put 16 state senators up for recall, eight Democrats and eight Republicans, because of the budget bill proposed...
, there were a number of failed recall petitions. Petitions against senators Lena TaylorLena TaylorLena C. Taylor is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 4th District since 2005. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 18th District from 2003 through 2005....
(D), Spencer CoggsSpencer CoggsG. Spencer Coggs is a Democratic Party of Wisconsin member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 6th district since 2003.-Early life, education and career:...
(D), Mark Miller (D), Glenn GrothmanGlenn GrothmanGlenn Grothman is the Republican Assistant Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 20th District in southeastern Wisconsin since 2005. The district includes the city of West Bend, other parts of Washington County, and parts of Fond du Lac, Dodge, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee counties...
(R), Julie LassaJulie LassaJulie M. Lassa is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 24th District since a special election in April 2003...
(D), Fred RisserFred RisserFred Risser is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 26th District since 1962. His district includes most of the west side and central neighborhoods of Madison, including the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.- Early life, education and career :Risser was born...
(D), and Mary LazichMary LazichMary Lazich is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 28th District since a special election in April 1998. She was previously a member of the Wisconsin Assembly from 1993 through 1998....
(R), were unsuccessful. Many senators had multiple recall petitions filed against them, and in the case of both Wirch and Hansen, one succeeded while others failed. - 2011, an effort to recall MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
GovernorGovernor of MichiganThe Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
Rick Snyder was ended after organizers did not obtain enough petition signatures to appear on the ballot.
In Progress
- 2011 recall of Alaska State Representative Kyle JohansenKyle JohansenKyle Johansen is the Republican Majority Leader in the Alaska House of Representatives representing Alaska's 1st District since 2006. He is a member of several committees, including the Transportation Committee, Economic Development, Trade & Tourism Special Committee, Energy Special Committee, the...
, sponsored by an opposing faction within the local Republican Party. - 2011 recall of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Governor Scott WalkerScott WalkerScott Walker may refer to:*Scott Walker , Governor of Wisconsin, and former county executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin*Scott Walker , boxer... - 2011 recall of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Lieutenant Governor Rebecca KleefischRebecca KleefischRebecca Kleefisch is a former television news anchor, turned American politician, and is currently serving as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin... - 2011 recall of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Senator Scott L. FitzgeraldScott L. FitzgeraldScott L. Fitzgerald is an American politician. He is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 13th District since 1994.-Early life, education and career:... - 2011 recall of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Senator Van H. WanggaardVan H. WanggaardVan Wanggaard is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 21st district since 2011.Born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Wanggaard graduated from Gateway Technical College with a certificate in Police Science Instruction. He ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2006, but lost... - 2011 recall of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Senator Terry MoultonTerry MoultonTerry Moulton is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 23rd district since 2011. He was previously a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 68th district from 2005 to 2009.... - 2011 recall of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Senator Pam GallowayPam GallowayDr. Pam Galloway is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 29th District since 2011.Galloway graduated with a BA from the University of Chicago in 1976, and earned her MD from the University of Virginia in 1980. Pam is a member of a number of medical committees, and was the...
Venezuela
Article 72 of the Constitution of VenezuelaConstitution of Venezuela
||The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the current and twenty-sixth constitution of Venezuela. It was drafted in mid-1999 by a constitutional assembly that had been created by popular referendum. Adopted in December 1999, it replaced the 1961 Constitution - the longest...
enables the recall of any elected representative, including the President. This provision was used in the Venezuelan recall referendum, 2004, which attempted to remove President Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
:
- Article 72: All
[...] offices filled by popular vote are subject to revocation. - Once one-half of the term of office to which an official has been elected has elapsed, a number of voters representing at least 20% of the registered voters in the affected constituency may petition for the calling of a referendum to revoke that official's mandate.
- When a number of voters equal to or greater than the number of those who elected the official vote in favour of the recall, provided that a number of voters equal to or greater than 25% of the total number of registered voters vote in the recall referendum, the official's mandate shall be deemed revoked and immediate action shall be taken to fill the permanent vacancy as provided for by this Constitution and by law.
See also
General- Motion of no confidenceMotion of no confidenceA motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
- Ostracism, the process by which Athenians could ban a possible tyrant from the city
- Popular referendumPopular referendumA popular referendum is a type of a referendum that provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a...
- Imperative mandateImperative mandateImperative mandate is a political system in which parliamentary deputies can only enact policies in accordance with concretely transmitted preference by their electors. The institution of imperative mandate has been rarely applied. Some political scientists have argued an imperative mandate would...
Officeholders who were recalled
- Lester R. Rice-WrayLester R. Rice-WrayLester Rice-Wray was a professor of mathematics at the University of Denver who later was elected to the City Council in Los Angeles, California, and was the first councilman there to face a recall election under the 1925 city charter....
, Los Angeles, California, City Council member recalled in 1928