What is meant by the term “recall election”?

A recall election is a type of election used in Washington State to remove an elected official from their position before their term is up. The process is started by citizens who have concerns about an elected official’s performance in office and want to “recall” them to hold a special election. If enough signatures are collected (which must reach a certain percentage of the total voters in the jurisdiction in which the elected official was voted in) to begin a recall process, a recall election will be held. At the recall election, the people of the jurisdiction vote to either retain the official (meaning they keep their position) or recall them (meaning they are removed from the position). If a majority of people vote to recall, the official is removed from their elected position and a new election is held to fill the vacancy. Recall elections are one way for citizens to hold elected officials accountable for their actions and beliefs. It allows citizens to decide if their elected officials are doing a good job representing them and their interests, and if not, to hold them to a higher standard.

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What is meant by the term “recall election”?

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