Recall

In Washington state, a council recall election allows citizens to take action against elected officials who have committed certain acts while in office. Here are the key details:

Grounds for Recall:

A recall can only occur if the targeted public official has:

Committed malfeasance (wrongful conduct affecting official duty).

Committed misfeasance (improper performance of duty).

Violated their oath of office.

These grounds are specified in Article I, §33 of the Washington Constitution1.

Initiating Proceedings:

Any legal voter (individually or on behalf of an organization) can initiate a recall against an elected official.

The voter must prepare a typewritten charge that:

Names the officer.

Describes the alleged acts concisely (including approximate date, location, and nature).

Is verified under oath.

The charge must be based on malfeasance, misfeasance, or oath violation2.

3: Signature Requirement:

To proceed with a recall, organizers must collect signatures from registered voters.

The number of required signatures varies based on the office being recalled.

Federal officials cannot be recalled due to the absence of a constitutional provision for federal recall1.