Recall
Recall
A Recall is a procedure that allows citizens to remove and replace a public official before the end of their term in office. A.R.S. § 19-201. A recall may commence after an individual has been in office for six months, except for state legislators which can be filed five days after the start of their first session, and no specific grounds are required. A.R.S. § 19-202(A).
A recall can be filed against any public officer on any grounds but may not be filed until after the elected official has been in office in his or her first term for at least six months, except for state legislators. In the case of state legislators, a recall petition may commence five days after the start of their first legislative session after their election. A.R.S. § 19-202(A).
- Statement of Organization (If Sponsored by a Committee)
A recall measure can be sponsored by an individual or a committee. If a committee is serving as the applicant, the committee must file a Statement of Organization using the Arizona Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Filing System at or before the time of submitting an Application for Serial Number. The Secretary of State will not accept an application from a committee without an accompanying statement or designation. A.R.S. § 19-111(A).
- General Statement and Application for Serial Number
An individual or organization wishing to recall a state officer must submit the online General Statement and a completed PDF Application stating their intent to circulate a statewide recall petition.
The General Statement must be submitted online first before the PDF Application is submitted. The language provided online must exactly match the information completed on the PDF Application to be submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office. A.R.S. § 16-926(B)(3)(n). Completing the General Statement form does NOT complete the application process.
To complete the PDF Application, please enter all required fields including:
- The name and title of the officer to be recalled
- A general statement of not more than two hundred words stating the grounds of the demand for the recall, which will be printed on the face of each petition sheet. This text must match the General Statement that you submitted online.
- All information required to identify the recall applicant and sponsoring committee (if applicable)
- A signature and date from the applicant at the bottom of the form
Dates and Signature Requirements
Dates For Starting Recall Petitions:
- For Legislators, 5 days after the start of 1st legislative session
- For all other officials, 6 months the official is in office
Ariz. Const. Art. VIII, pt. 1, § 5; A.R.S § 19-202.
A recall petition must be submitted within 120 days of the Application for Recall being approved. A.R.S. § 19-203(C).
Signature Requirements:
Signatures required: 25% of all votes cast at the last election for all candidates for office held by that elected official. If two or more public officials are elected from one ballot, the following equation will be used to determine signature requirements as outlined in
(0.25 x overall votes)/ (number of offices filled).
Recall Process
Recall Action | Timeframe |
---|---|
Application for Serial Number Filed | 120 days to collect signatures |
Recall Petition Sheets Filed | 10 days for filing officer to complete signature review and send to County Recorder’s Office |
County Recorder’s Office receives petitions that have completed signature review | 60 days to complete signature verification and notify the filing officer |
Filing officer receives the completed signature verification | 5 business days to determine if total signature requirement has been met and notify the filer |
Filing officer determines total amount of valid signatures received | 2 business days to the officer whom the recall was filed against |
Recalled officer receives notice of Recall Election | 5 days to decide whether to resign |
If recalled officer resigns | Office is appointed according to law |
If recalled officer does not resign | 15 days to announce the date of the recall election |
Recall Election | The recall election will occur on the first consolidated election date that is at least 90 days in the future |
Official Canvass of the Recall Election | 6 – 20 days |