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    Political recall efforts

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 3 min

    This page lists all political recall efforts identified by Ballotpedia in the United States organized by year and level of government. Recalls are the process by which an elected official can be removed from office via a public vote before their term is completed.

    If you are aware of a current or historical recall effort not listed on this page, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know.

    Analysis[edit]

    See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

    Recall success by year[edit]

    From 2010 to 2023, Ballotpedia covered an average of 217 recall efforts against an average of 354 officials per year. Those recalls saw a 16.6% success rate.[1] The highest success rate happened in 2011 when 83 of the 308 officials targeted for recall were removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 26.9%. The lowest success rate happened in 2021 when 25 of the 545 officials targeted for recall were removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 4.6%.

    As of September 30, 2024, Ballotpedia had tracked 203 recall efforts against 320 officials. As of that time, 57 of the officials targeted for recall had been removed from office in a recall election, a success rate of 17.8%. Twenty-seven officials defeated a recall election to stay in office.

    The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections from 2010 to September 30, 2024.

    Recalls by office type[edit]

    From 2010 to 2023, city council members had the most recall petitions filed against them when compared to other office types with the exception of 2021, when school board members had the most. School board members had the second-most recall petitions filed against them every year except 2021, when they had the most, and 2017, when they had the third-most after city council members and mayors.

    As of September 30, 2024, city council members again had the most recall petitions filed against them with 133. School board members came in second with 76, and mayors came in third with 37.

    The chart below shows the number of officials included in recall efforts by office type from 2010 through September 30, 2024.

    Recalls by state[edit]

    From 2010 through September 30, 2024, California saw the highest number of officials included in recall efforts with 1,011. Michigan came in second with 986. The third-highest number of officials included in recall efforts was in Colorado with 355.

    The map below shows the total number of officials targeted for recall in each state from 2010 to September 30, 2024. Ballotpedia did not track any recall efforts in the states shown in gray.

    Recalls by year[edit]

    Click on the tabs below for more information about political recall efforts by year and type of office. The recalls listed in tabs prior to 2010 are not comprehensive. Click here to learn about how recall procedures vary from state to state.

    2024[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2024

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    No recalls scheduled for a vote in 2024.

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2023[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2023

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2022[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2022

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2021[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2021

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2020[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2020

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2020.

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2019[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2019

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2018[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2018, Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2018), and Ballotpedia's 2018 Recall Analysis

    In 2018, Ballotpedia tracked 206 recalls against 299 elected officials. Of the 123 elected officials who faced recall elections, 77 officials were recalled.

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2018.

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2018.

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2017[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2017, Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2017), and Ballotpedia's 2017 Recall Analysis

    In 2017, Ballotpedia tracked 250 recall efforts against 344 elected officials. Of the 65 elected officials who faced recall elections, 37 officials were recalled, for a rate of 56.9 percent. This was higher than the 56.3 percent rate for 2016 recalls and lower than the 64.5 percent rate for 2015 recalls.

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2016[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2016, Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2016), and Ballotpedia's 2016 Recall Analysis

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2015[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2015, and Ballotpedia's 2015 Recall Analysis

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Judges[edit]

    See also: Judicial recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2014[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state, Political recall efforts, 2014, and Ballotpedia's 2014 Recall Analysis

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2014.

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2013[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2013

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2013.

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2012[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2012

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2012.

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2011[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2011

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2011.

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    U.S. Congress[edit]

    See also: Congressional recalls

    2010[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2010

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2010.

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    U.S. Congress[edit]

    See also: Congressional recalls

    2009[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state and Political recall efforts, 2009

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    City officials[edit]

    See also: City official recall efforts

    No recalls were scheduled for a vote in 2009.

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2008[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2007[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    2006[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    County officials[edit]

    See also: County official recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    2005[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    2004[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    2003[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    State executives[edit]

    See also: State executive recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    2002[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    1996[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    Special districts[edit]

    See also: Special district recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1995[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1994[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    School boards[edit]

    See also: School board recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1991[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    1990[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1988[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1985[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1983[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1980[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    1978[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    1971[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1960[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    1952[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    1949[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    Sheriffs[edit]

    See also: Sheriff recall efforts

    1935[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1932[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    City councils[edit]

    See also: City council recall efforts

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1924[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    County commissions[edit]

    See also: County commission recall efforts

    1914[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1913[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    State legislatures[edit]

    See also: State legislative recall efforts

    1911[edit]

    See also: Political recall efforts by state

    Mayors/presidents[edit]

    See also: Mayoral recall efforts

    About recalls[edit]

    See also: Laws governing recall

    A political recall is the process by which citizens can remove elected officials from office before their term is completed. This process typically includes the circulation of petitions by recall organizers, the evaluation of signatures by election officials, and a public vote if the petitions are deemed to have sufficient valid signatures.

    The details of the recall process vary from state to state. Thirty-nine states allow recalls at the local level of government, depending on office type, and 19 of those states also allow recalls at the state level. Click here to learn about the laws governing recalls in each state.

    Recall reports[edit]

    Ballotpedia publishes two reports each year to highlight recall statistics and notable recall efforts at the local and state government levels. Click the links below to read these reports:

    See also[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ The success rate was calculated by dividing the number of recalled officials by the total number of officials who were targeted for recall.
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    Recall analysis • All recalls • Upcoming recalls • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009
    Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Original source: https://ballotpedia.org/Political_recall_efforts
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