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Laws governing recall in the District of Columbia
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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 Washington, D.C.. Washington, D.C. allows for the recall of some 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.
Local officials
Any elected official may be recalled, except the district's delegate to congress.[2]
Process
Prerequisites
Term length
A recall petition may not be filed against any official who is in their first 365 days or last 365 days of a given term in office.[2]
Reasons for recall
The “Notice of Intention to Recall” must state the reasons for the proposed recall in 200 words. No specific reason has to be given in order to propose a recall.[2] Washington D.C. is not one of 12 states that requires specific reasons for a recall.[2]
Notice of intention
The recall process begins when a registered voter files a "Notice of Intention to Recall." This document must state the reasons for the proposed recall in no more than 200 words. A "Notice of Intention to Recall" may not be filed during the first or last year of an elected official's term. The targeted official has 10 days to respond to the "Notice of Intention to Recall." After 10 days have passed, the recall petition can begin to be circulated. The Board of Elections and Ethics must approve the petition before it is circulated and the petition must include the recall proponent's notice as well as the elected official's response.[2]
Petition
Signature requirements
Valid signatures from 10% of the registered voters in the elected official's district are required to force a recall election. For citywide recalls, a ward distribution requirement necessitates the collection of signatures from at least 10% of the voters in at least five of the city's eight election wards, in addition to meeting the 10% citywide requirement.[2]
Circulation timeline
Recall organizers have 180 days to submit signatures. The 180 days begin on the day that the elected official submits his or her response to the "Notice of Intention to Recall."
Signature verification
The Board of Elections determines if petition signers are registered voters of the District of Columbia. A random sampling of signatures is verified against the signatory's voter registration record. The Board of Elections has 30 days to complete the signature verification process. Recall proponents and representatives of the targeted official may legally watch the petition verification process.[2]
Election
If the Board of Elections certifies the recall petition, a recall election will be scheduled within 114 days.
The question on the recall election ballot will ask voters whether or not they would like to recall the targeted official. A simple majority is required to recall an official.
Special elections
If the official is recalled, then a special election will be scheduled to fill the vacant office. The special election is held the first Tuesday occurring 114 days after certification of the recall election results. The recalled official may legally choose to enter the special election as a candidate.[2]
See also
What are recalls?
Recall efforts
Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Recalls by state
Recalls by office
Recall laws
External links
- DC Board of Elections and Ethics Information on the Recall of Elected Officials
- Rule: 3-1100 - Recall of Elected Officials
Footnotes
