Laws governing recall in Colorado
 |
| Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its laws governing recall elections. |
A recall election is the process by which citizens may remove elected officials from office before the expiration of their terms. This article summarizes the laws governing recall elections in Colorado. Colorado allows for the recall of state and local officials.
In 39 states, local officials can be subject to recall elections. Of those, 19 also permit recalls of state-level officials. Eleven states do not permit recalls of elected officials at any level. Click here for more information.
Offices subject to recall
Federal officials
The U.S. Constitution does not provide for the recall of elected federal officials. While some state constitutions have stated that their citizens have the right to recall members of Congress, the Supreme Court has never ruled on whether such recalls are constitutional.[1] Ballotpedia does not provide coverage of federal recalls. Click here for more information.
State officials
Colorado law provides for the recall of "[e]very elected officer of this state or any political subdivision thereof," under § 1-12-101 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.[2]
Local officials
Colorado law provides for the recall of "[e]very elected or appointed officer of any municipality of the state," under § 31-4-501 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.[3]
Process
Petition
First, a recall petition must be filed with the office in which nomination petitions are filed for the official that is being recalled. The petition must include a statement of no less than 200 words explaining the ground on which the official is to be recalled.[4]
Signature requirements
For a recall to qualify for the ballot, supporters must file signatures "equal in number to twenty-five percent of the entire vote cast at the last preceding election for all candidates for the position which the incumbent sought to be recalled occupies." The petition must be "signed by registered electors entitled to vote for a successor of the incumbent sought to be recalled."[4]
Circulation timeline
After the petition is approved by the relevant election office, circulation of the petition may begin. Petitioners have 60 days to gather the proper number of signatures.
Signature verification
After the proper number of signatures has been gathered, the petition is submitted to the office in which it was filed to be deemed sufficient. This entails verifying the signatures. Once the petition has been deemed sufficient, the office in which it was filed will deliver the petition along with a certificate of its sufficiency to the governor or the designated election official who will then set a date for the recall election.[5][6]
Election
After the petition has been deemed sufficient, the official against whom the recall was filed may resign within five days without having the recall election held against them. If the official does not resign, the recall election will go on as scheduled. The election will be held not more than 60 days after the petition was deemed sufficient, but not within 30 days after. However, if a general election is being held within 90 days of filing, then the recall election will be held in conjunction with the general election. County and school district recall elections can be held in conjunction with general elections being held within 120 days of filing.[6]
The ballot will include the original statement from the petitioners as to why the official in question should be recalled, as well as a no more than 300 word rebuttal from the official, if the official submits a statement.[7]
The ballot will have two boxes, marked "Yes" approving the recall and "No" disapproving the recall. There will also be a list of candidates whom those who voted for the recall may vote to replace the official. In this sense, the recall election is held simultaneously with the election of the new official.[7][8]
If a majority of participants vote "No" in the recall, the official against whom the recall was filed will remain in his or her position. If there is a majority of "Yes" votes, then the new official will be the candidate on the list with the most votes.[8]
Legislation involving recall elections
The table below lists bills related to recall elections in Colorado. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
See also
What are recalls?
Recall efforts
Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Recalls by state
Recalls by office
Recall laws
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Recall of Legislators and the Removal of Members of Congress from Office," January 5, 2012
- ↑ 2024 Colorado Revised Statutes, "§ 1-12-101," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑ 2024 Colorado Revised Statutes, "§ 31-4-501," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, "ARTICLE XXI: Recall from Office," accessed September 18, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-108 - Petition requirements - approval as to form - determination of sufficiency - protest - offenses," accessed October 13, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-111 - Setting date of recall election," accessed October 13, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-112 - Ballots - statement included," accessed October 13, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-119 - Canvass of votes - notification of results," accessed October 13, 2023
