Recall from Office

Abstract

This chapter discusses Article XXI of the Colorado Constitution, titled “Recall from Office.” Added by citizens’ initiative in 1912, it established the constitutional right of voters to recall and replace public officials by petition and election. Section 1 subjects every “elective public officer of the state” to recall. Section 4 provides that elective officers of counties and cities may be recalled as provided by statute. It includes ambiguous language that can be read to say that every elected officer with governmental authority “shall be subject” to recall. Section 2 details the form of recall petitions, and Section 3 states the procedure for carrying out recalls.