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Laws governing recall in Idaho
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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 Idaho. Idaho allows for the recall of state and local officials, other than judicial officers.[1]
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.[2] Ballotpedia does not provide coverage of federal recalls. Click here for more information.
State officials
The following state officials are subject to recall in Idaho:[3]
- Governor
- Lieutenant governor
- Secretary of state
- State controller
- State treasurer
- Attorney general
- Superintendent of public instruction
Local officials
The following local officials are subject to recall in Idaho:[3]
- County officers: county commissioners, sheriff, treasurer, assessor, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the district court, and coroner
- City officers: mayor, city councilors
- Special district officers
Process
Petition
Signature requirements
Signature requirements for the recall of elected officials in Idaho are governed by the Idaho Statutes §34-1702.[4]
- Governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction: the number of valid signatures required for a recall election for a state official is equal to at least 20% of the number of electors registered to vote at the last general election held to elect a governor.
- State senators and state representatives: a recall election for a member of the state legislature requires valid signatures equal to at least 20% of the number of electors registered to vote at the last general election held in the legislative district at which the member was elected.
- County commissioners, sheriff, treasurer, assessor, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the district court, and coroner: a recall election for a county official requires valid signatures equal to at least 20% of the number of electors registered to vote at the last general election held in the county for the election of county officers at which the officer was elected.
- Mayors and city councilmembers: a recall election for a city official requires valid signatures equal to at least 20% of the number of electors registered to vote at the last election for the office.
- Special districts: a recall election for an officeholder in a special district requires valid signatures "equal in number to fifty percent (50%) of the number of electors who cast votes in the last election within the district, subdistrict, or zone." If an election has not been held in the last six years, the signature requirement is equal to 20% of registered voters in the district, subdistrict, or zone at the time the petition is filed.
Circulation timeline
Circulation of the recall petition must be completed within 75 days after the form of the recall petition is approved for circulation.
Election
According to Idaho Statutes §34-1708:[5]
| “ | ...the question of whether the officer should be recalled shall be placed on the ballot in a form substantially similar to the following:
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Legislation involving recall elections
The table below lists bills related to recall elections in Idaho. 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
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ARTICLE VI SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS," accessed September 16, 2025
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Recall of Legislators and the Removal of Members of Congress from Office," January 5, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes Section 34-1701," accessed September 16, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes Section 34-1702," accessed April 28, 2021
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes Section 34-1708," accessed September 16, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
