Changes

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. 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>)

[[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.]]