OH HB157

Allows qualified voters to remove any elective township officer through a recall election by filing a petition signed by electors equal to at least 15% of votes cast at the most recent regular township election.

Petition must include a statement of no more than 200 words explaining the grounds for removal and be filed with the board of elections, with form and sufficiency determined according to general election laws.

If the officer does not resign within 5 days after petition sufficiency is determined, the board of township trustees must order a recall election to be held between 30 and 40 days later.

Candidates to succeed the officer must be nominated by petition signed by electors equal to 10% of votes cast at the most recent regular township election, filed at least 20 days before the special election, without a primary election process.

Removal requires a majority vote on the recall question on the ballot; if approved, the officer is removed and the candidate receiving the most votes for that office is elected to serve the remainder of the term, with the removed officer receiving reimbursement for actual election expenses from township funds if not recalled.