What is meant by the term “recall election”?

In Virginia, a recall election is a type of voting process used to remove an elected official from office before their term ends. It is initiated by citizens who collect signatures from other voters in the official’s jurisdiction. If the signatures equal a certain percentage of the total number of votes cast in the last election, a recall election is then held. In Virginia, the required signatures must be equal to 25% of the total number of votes cast for the office in the previous election. In the recall election, the voters will decide whether to remove the current official from office or keep them in office. If the majority of the votes cast are in favor of the recall, the elected official is immediately removed from office. On the other hand, if the majority of the votes are against the recall, the elected official remains in office for their full term. Recall elections are a way for citizens to take control over their government and hold elected officials accountable. However, they are only used in extreme cases in Virginia since there are rigorous requirements that must be met. In all cases, the election is officially certified by the State Board of Elections. This ensures that all laws and regulations are followed throughout the process.

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