Laws governing recall in Massachusetts
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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 Massachusetts. Massachusetts allows for the recall of local officials but does not allow for the recall of state 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
Massachusetts law does not provide for the recall of state officials.[2]
Local officials
Recall of local elected officials in Massachusetts is available in some jurisdictions.[3] The right of citizens to recall elected officials is believed to have been mentioned first in the Massachusetts Charter of 1691.[4]
Process
Petition
Localized requirements
No specific grounds are required for recall in Massachusetts. The recall of local officials in Massachusetts is governed by local charters. Because of this, recall laws regarding signature requirements and circulation time vary by locality.[5]
Legislation involving recall elections
The table below lists bills related to recall elections in Massachusetts. 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
- ↑ News Telegram, "Selectman Filipkowski recalled by voters; replaced by Chabot," October 19, 2010
- ↑ Washington Times, "Reckless Congress makes case for recall," December 17, 2010
- ↑ General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Acts of 2016," accessed October 16, 2023
