FL H0785

Proposes creation of Article VI, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution to establish a recall mechanism allowing voters to remove the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet members, or legislators before their terms expire.

Recall petitions must be submitted to the chief election officer within 120 days and include the name of the official and alleged reason for recall; the sufficiency of the reason is not subject to review.

For statewide officials (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet members), petitions require signatures from all 67 counties equaling 15 percent of votes cast in the last election; for legislators, signatures must equal 20 percent of votes cast in their district.

If a recall petition succeeds, an election must be held 60-80 days after signature certification (or on the next regularly scheduled election date if within 100 days) where voters decide on recall and simultaneously elect a successor; the recalled official cannot be a candidate.

If recall fails, the official is reimbursed for personally incurred election expenses and no further recall petition may be filed against that official during their remaining term.