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Laws governing recall in Maine
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| 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 Maine. Maine allows for recall in some local jurisdictions.
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
Maine law does not provide for the recall of state officials.[2]
Local officials
Maine Revised Statutes § 30-A § 2505 provides that in some charter cities and towns, elected municipal officials can be removed via a recall election.[3]
Process
Petition
Localized requirements
No specific grounds are required for recall in Maine. The recall of local officials in Maine is governed by local charters. Because of this, recall laws regarding signature requirements and circulation time vary by locality.[4]
Legislation involving recall elections
The table below lists bills related to recall elections in Maine. 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
Footnotes
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Recall of Legislators and the Removal of Members of Congress from Office," January 5, 2012
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Recall of State Officials," September 15, 2021
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "§2505. Recall of municipal officials," accessed September 16, 2025
- ↑ Maine Municipal Association, "Local Government in Maine," August 1, 2016
