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A '''recall election''' is an [[election]] called in the middle of an elected official's term of office when a sufficient proportion of the electorate deems it intolerable or inappropriate to allow that official to complete his term.  Its use is rare, and usually confined to local offices such as school boards and city councils.

A '''recall election''' is an [[election]] called in the middle of an elected official's term of office when a sufficient proportion of the electorate deems it intolerable or inappropriate to allow that official to complete his term.  Its use is growing, typically for local offices such as school boards and city councils. In 2021, record numbers of recall efforts occurred:  91 school board recall efforts against 235 board members, and overall 346 recall efforts against 535 elected officials.<ref>https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/01/11/oregon-school-district-to-hold-recall-elections-against-two-school-board-members-jan-18/</ref>

Eighteen states, mostly in the western [[United States]], provide, in their laws, for the mid-term recall of U.S. Senators and other elected officials:<ref name=ncsl>"[http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581 Entry for Recall Election]," National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed 14 January 2010.</ref>  Seven of these states require specific grounds for a recall: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.  Of these, the following states have ''constitutional'' provisions authorizing the recall of congressmen:  Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin; Montana has a statutory recall provision.<ref>http://www.recallcongressnow.org/states.php</ref>

Eighteen states, mostly in the western [[United States]], provide, in their laws, for the mid-term recall of U.S. Senators and other elected officials:<ref name=ncsl>"[http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581 Entry for Recall Election]," National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed 14 January 2010.</ref>  Seven of these states require specific grounds for a recall: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.  Of these, the following states have ''constitutional'' provisions authorizing the recall of congressmen:  Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin; Montana has a statutory recall provision.<ref>http://www.recallcongressnow.org/states.php</ref>

Federal law does not provide for the popular recall of a [[President of the United States]], but the various State-level recall laws often provide for the recall, not only of State officials but also of their [[United States Senate|Senators]] and [[United States House of Representatives|Representatives]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]]. (To date no Senator or Representative has been recalled mid-term from his office. A [[New Jersey]] case has produced an opinion that no State may recall its Senator.<ref name=examiner>Hurlbut T, "[http://www.examiner.com/essex-county-elections-2010-in-newark/nj-supremes-declare-recall-unconstitutional NJ Supremes declare recall unconstitutional]," ''Essex County Conservative Examiner'', <http://www.examiner.com/Newark>, 18 November 2010</ref> That case will likely head to the [[United States Supreme Court]] for a definitive determination.)

Federal law does not provide for the popular recall of a [[President of the United States]], but the various State-level recall laws often provide for the recall, not only of State officials but also of their [[United States Senate|Senators]] and [[United States House of Representatives|Representatives]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]]. (To date no Senator or Representative has been recalled mid-term from his office. The [[New Jersey Supreme Court]] held that no State may recall its Senator.<ref name=examiner>Hurlbut T, "[http://www.examiner.com/essex-county-elections-2010-in-newark/nj-supremes-declare-recall-unconstitutional NJ Supremes declare recall unconstitutional]," ''Essex County Conservative Examiner'', <http://www.examiner.com/Newark>, 18 November 2010</ref>)

[[File:Recall.jpg|thumb|175px|Republican [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] replaced California's governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, at a recall election in 2003.]]

[[File:Recall.jpg|thumb|175px|Republican [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] replaced California's governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, at a recall election in 2003.]]

   

   

In the early 20th century, the [[Progressive Movement]], especially in western states,  sought more direct democracy by promoting the recall, along with the initiative (the people petition to put a new law on the ballot), referendum (people vote on major laws proposed by the lefislature), direct election of senators (election was by the state legislature), and woman suffrage. When the territory of Arizona in 1911 submitted its new constitution to Washington in order to become a state, conservative President [[William Howard Taft]] insisted on removing the recall provision because it would allow recall of state judges. The recall was removed, Taft signed the statehood bill on February 14, 1912, and state residents promptly put the provision back in.<ref>Cindy Hayostek, "Douglas Delegates to the 1910 Constitutional Convention and Arizona's Progressive Heritage," ''Journal of Arizona History'' 2006 47(4): 347-366</ref>  

In the early 20th century, the [[Progressive Movement]], especially in western states,  sought more direct democracy by promoting the recall, along with the initiative (the people petition to put a new law on the ballot), referendum (people vote on major laws proposed by the lefislature), direct election of senators (election was by the state legislature), and woman suffrage. When the territory of Arizona in 1911 submitted its new constitution to Washington in order to become a state, conservative President [[William Howard Taft]] insisted on removing the recall provision because it would allow recall of state judges. The recall was removed, Taft signed the statehood bill on February 14, 1912, and state residents promptly put the provision back in.<ref>Cindy Hayostek, "Douglas Delegates to the 1910 Constitutional Convention and Arizona's Progressive Heritage," ''Journal of Arizona History'' 2006 47(4): 347-366</ref>  

===California===

===California===

A recall has been part of the California Constitution since 1911.<ref>http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_2</ref>

A recall has been part of the California Constitution since 1911.<ref>http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_2</ref> As of 2021, 1.5 million verified signatures are required to trigger a recall election in California.

In September 1938, Los Angeles Mayor Frank L. Shaw was removed from office in a recall election after serving 14 years. This results was the major victory of a multi-interest urban reform movement that successfully portrayed Shaw as the despot of a corrupt political machine financed by big business and underworld interests. With the aid of a police scandal and the wealth of one recall leader, the reform candidate won a landslide victory. After the election, the reform coalition disintegrated when the various single-issue groups found that they were not the dominant influence in the new city administration.<ref>Thomas Joseph Sitton, ''Urban Politics and Reform in New Deal Los Angeles: the Recall of Mayor Frank L. Shaw,'' Ph.d. Dissertation , University of California, Riverside, in Proquest Dissertations & Theses: A&I</ref>

In September 1938, Los Angeles Mayor Frank L. Shaw was removed from office in a recall election after serving 14 years. This results was the major victory of a multi-interest urban reform movement that successfully portrayed Shaw as the despot of a corrupt political machine financed by big business and underworld interests. With the aid of a police scandal and the wealth of one recall leader, the reform candidate won a landslide victory. After the election, the reform coalition disintegrated when the various single-issue groups found that they were not the dominant influence in the new city administration.<ref>Thomas Joseph Sitton, ''Urban Politics and Reform in New Deal Los Angeles: the Recall of Mayor Frank L. Shaw,'' Ph.d. Dissertation , University of California, Riverside, in Proquest Dissertations & Theses: A&I</ref>

Governor Gray Davis was the first California governor to be recalled by voters, in 2003, and only the second governor in United States history to be removed by the voters from office.

Governor Gray Davis was the first California governor to be recalled by voters, in 2003, and only the second governor in United States history to be removed by the voters from office.  [[Gavin Newsom]] was subject to a recall petition but survived.  However, in somewhat of a surprise, [[Chesa Boudin]] was recalled as District Attorney for [[San Francisco|The City and County of San Francisco]] (mainly on the strength of minorities who opposed his indifference in prosecuting minor crimes; white liberals generally supported keeping him in office).

===Oklahoma===

===Oklahoma===