MO HJR51

Proposes a constitutional amendment to Article VII allowing qualified voters to remove any elected state or local official through recall petition, to be placed on the November 2016 ballot or a special election

Requires recall petitions to obtain signatures from at least 25% of qualified voters who voted in the last gubernatorial election, with signatures filed within 60 days of the earliest signature

Prohibits recall of officials who have served less than 6 months or have less than 6 months remaining in their term; limits two-year terms to one recall petition per term

Restricts recall grounds to crimes, incompetence, misconduct, corruption, failure to perform duties, willful neglect, moral turpitude, or oppression in office, with a 200-word maximum statement of reasons

Recalled officials cannot run for or be appointed to fill the vacancy created by their recall; if an official resigns before the recall election, the office is declared vacant