NY A07118

Proposes a new Article 20 to the New York State Constitution establishing recall procedures for statewide elected officers, including the governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, and attorney general.

Recall is initiated when a registered voter files an affidavit with the state board of elections stating intent and reason for recall; proponents have 120 days to gather petition signatures, with filing allowed no sooner than six months after the officer takes office.

Petition is deemed sufficient when signed by registered voters equal to at least 12 percent of the total vote for that office in the previous election, with a minimum of 2,000 signatures from each congressional district.

A recall election is held between 70-180 days after petition certification; if a majority votes to recall, the officer is removed and replaced by the plurality vote-getter among candidates (the recalled officer cannot run).

The legislature is directed to enact implementing legislation; counties' election costs are reimbursed by the state general fund, and another recall cannot be initiated for six months after a failed recall election.