Bill > HB1304

This bill creates the Local Government Elected Official Recall Act, which establishes a comprehensive process for removing locally elected officials through recall elections. The bill allows voters to initiate a recall petition against local officials who have been elected during a general or consolidated election, with the required number of petition signatures varying based on the population of the jurisdiction (ranging from 30% to 10% of votes cast for Governor in the previous election). To start the recall process, petitioners must file an affidavit with the State Board of Elections, which can only be done at least 6 months after the official's term begins. The petition must include a 200-word statement explaining the grounds for recall, and the targeted official can submit a 200-word response. If the petition is validated and certified, a recall election will be held at the next general or consolidated election, where voters can choose to remove the official and select a replacement. An official can be removed if three-fifths of voters support recall, and the removed official is ineligible to serve in public office for 10 years. The bill also limits home rule powers, preventing local governments from creating recall procedures that conflict with this state-level law. Each recall must be conducted individually for officials serving on the same public body, and there will be no primary or runoff elections after a recall election.