Recall Elections

If this bill passes, part of Tennessee law, called the “Tennessee Code Annotated” will be taken out. 

• And another part will be changed by adding a new piece.  

• This new added part will:

  • Define "local official" as people who were elected to make local laws. Examples are mayor, sheriff, trustee, register, clerk, or school board member

    • Mayor: The person in charge of a city or town government.

    • Sheriff: The person who leads the police for a large area in the state, called a county.

    • Trustee: The person who manages money and property for a large area in the state, called a county.

    • Register: the person who keeps official paperwork for a county, like land deeds or marriage licenses.

    • Clerk: The person who keeps official paperwork and makes sure paperwork is done the right way in a county. 

  • Make it so that people who are signed up to vote can remove their local officials.  

    • People who live in the area who voted in the last regular election can turn in paperwork asking for the local official to be removed. 

      • This paperwork has to be signed by at least 66% of the votes made for that job.  

      • Signatures must have the signer’s name, the date, and where they live.  

      • The paperwork must say why people want the local official removed.  

      • The paperwork must include a piece of paper signed by the person who sent it out that confirms the information is true.

    • The county election commission has 15 days to decide if the signatures are enough. 

      • County Election Commission: a group that deals with voting and elections in that part of Tennessee

      • After 15 days, the group will attach a piece of paper with their decision:  

      • If they decide the signatures are enough, they will  share that the person will be removed from their job as a local official  

      • If they decide the signatures are not enough, the person can fix the paperwork within 15 days

        • If still not enough or if no fix is made, the paperwork is sent back.  

    • Separate paperwork with signatures is needed for each local official.  

  • If the signatures on the paperwork are enough to remove a person from their job as a local official: 

    • Voters choose “yes” or “no” to the question "Should the local official be recalled?" 

      • This is called a “recall election” 

    • The question is only asked to voters in the area that the official works for.  

    • If more vote “yes,” the official is removed, and no one has that job anymore. 

      • The job cannot be filled by the same person

  • No recall election can happen within 90 days before or after a regular election.  

• These changes start after the bill is passed.