Bill > HJR2

This joint resolution proposes a comprehensive amendment to the West Virginia State Constitution to establish the powers of initiative, referendum, and recall for registered voters. The initiative power allows voters to propose and potentially enact statutes or constitutional amendments through petition procedures, requiring signatures from at least 10% of voters in a district and in two-thirds of counties for statewide measures. The referendum power enables voters to propose rejection of newly enacted statutes through similar petition processes, with restrictions on what can be challenged. The recall power permits voters to remove elected officials from office through a petition process requiring signatures from 20% of voters in the official's electoral district, with limitations such as not allowing recall elections within one year of an official's term ending. The resolution establishes detailed procedural guidelines for these democratic processes, emphasizing that the Legislature must create laws governing petition preparation, signature verification, and election conduct. It also specifies that these powers are to be "liberally construed" to ensure people's ability to propose and accept or reject laws is not hindered by overly complex procedures, and it applies to both state and local levels of government while allowing for additional municipal charter provisions.