States, cities & tribes
recall election
A vote to remove an elected official before their term ends, triggered by petition. Available for state officials in about twenty states and widely at the local level.
In full
Requirements differ sharply: some states require specific grounds such as misconduct, most require only signatures. Ballot design varies too, with some states asking a removal question and a replacement question at once. No U.S. Senator or Representative can be recalled; the Constitution sets their terms and provides expulsion as the only removal route.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.