# THE RECALL

Part of Charter of the City of Columbus.

# THE RECALL

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# Sec. 46. - The recall.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-any-elective-officer"> Any elective officer provided for in this charter may be removed from office by recall petition. Such recall petition shall contain the signatures of not less than fifteen per cent of the number of electors who voted in the last preceding regular municipal election for mayor. Except as herein otherwise provided, no petition for recall shall be filed within one-hundred-eighty days after a person takes office, or within ninety days preceding a regular municipal election for such office. No more than three elective officers may be subject to the recall at any election.

 (Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

**Editor's note—**  Ord. No. 1748-2014, adopted July 21, 2014, amended the title of § 46 to read as set out herein. Former § 46 was titled \[ballots; levies; taxes.\]

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# Sec. 46-1. - Petition requirements.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-petitions-for-the-re"> Petitions for the recall shall be submitted to the city clerk within thirty days of the filing of the certified copy of the same. Separate petitions shall be submitted for each elective officer whose removal is sought. Petition for the recall of any elective officer shall contain the name and title of the person subject to the recall and a general statement in not more than two-hundred words setting forth the grounds upon which the removal of such person is sought.

 (Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

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# Sec. 46-2. - City clerk action on petition for recall.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-upon-receipt-of-the-"> Upon receipt of the report regarding the validation of signatures, the city clerk shall forthwith determine the sufficiency of the petition. If the clerk finds the petition sufficient, the city clerk shall forthwith serve notice of that fact upon the elective officer designated in the petition. If the official designated in the petition files a written resignation with the city clerk within five days after such notice, the office shall be forfeited. Such resignation shall be irrevocable, and the vacancy shall be filled in the manner of filling vacancies provided in this charter. If the elective officer whose removal is sought does not resign within five days after such notice, the city clerk shall thereupon forthwith order and provide for an election to determine the question of the removal of the elective officer. The city clerk shall solicit from such official a general statement in not more than two hundred words of the grounds upon which the person should retain office.

 (Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014; Ord. No. [2972-2016](#bkmrk-upon-receipt-of-the-), § 1, 12-12-2016)

**Editor's note—**  Ord. No. [2972-2016](#bkmrk-upon-receipt-of-the-), § 1, adopted Dec. 12, 2016, changed the title of § 46-2 from "City clerk action on petion for proposed charter amendment" to "City clerk action on petition for recall". This historic notation has been preserved for reference purposes.

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# Sec. 46-3 - Placement of recall on the ballot.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-the-question-of-the-"> The question of the removal of the elective officer shall be submitted to the electors of the city at the next regular municipal election if one shall occur not less than sixty, nor more than one-hundred-twenty, days after the city clerk determines the sufficiency of the same. If no such election will be held within the period herein provided, the city clerk shall order and provide for a special election within such period. If more than three valid petitions have been found sufficient, the three petitions bearing the most valid signatures shall be submitted at such an election. After such election, the city clerk shall repeat the provisions herein until all such sufficient petitions have been submitted to the electors.

 (Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

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# Sec. 46-4. - Ballot language, generally.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-the-ballot-for-any-r"> The ballot for any recall shall be as provided for by general laws of the state, unless otherwise provided by this charter or ordinance of council.

 (Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

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# Sec. 46-5. - Effect of electoral vote on recall.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-if-a-majority-of-the"> If a majority of the votes cast on the question of removal of any officer are affirmative, the elective officer whose removal is sought shall thereupon be deemed removed from office upon the announcement of the official canvass of that election and the vacancy caused by such recall shall be filled in the manner provided in this charter for filling vacancies caused by death or resignation.

 (Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

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# Secs. 47—51. - Reserved.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-editor%27s-note%E2%80%94-ord.-">**Editor's note—**  Ord. No. 1748-2014, adopted July 21, 2014, repealed §§ 47—51 in their entirety. Former §§ 47—51 pertained to \[submission to council; publication.\]; the referendum; \[signatures for referendum\]; \[action by clerk and council on petition\]; and \[referendum petition regulations; ballots\], respectively, and were derived from Original Charter and Ord. adopted 11-7-33.

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# Sec. 52. - (Deleted 11-7-33.)

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# Secs. 53—56. - Reserved.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-editor%27s-note%E2%80%94-ord.-">**Editor's note—**  Ord. No. 1748-2014, adopted July 21, 2014, repealed §§ 53—56 in their entirety. Former §§ 53—56 pertained to conflicting ordinances; referendum on emergency measures; when referendum does not apply; and referendum—preliminary action, respectively, and were derived from Original Charter.

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