The Topeka Capital-Journal on Friday reported on a Kansas local government official facing recall. In the story it provides some interesting statistics about recall efforts across the U.S.:
More than 275 state and local officials are up for recall throughout the country this year. Each is one name on a growing list of recalls, a trend in which residents — mobilized by anger, emboldened by precedent and equipped by technology — have the strength to bring their dissatisfaction to a vote.
“The use has really shot up in the last few decades but definitely this year in particular,” said Jennie Bowser, senior fellow with the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In the country’s history, only 32 state legislators have faced a recall election. Eleven of those happened just this year, according to the NCSL.
An unofficial count puts the number of local officials facing recall this year at 229. The efforts led to the recall or resignation of 64 officials — or about 28 percent.
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At least 65 recall efforts — or 42 percent — made it to a vote in 2011. Of the 110 local officials who faced a recall election this year, exactly half — 55 people — were removed from office.
However, nearly as many were abandoned before they got to a vote. Of the 52 efforts abandoned, 24 were because of a lack of signatures.
Read the full story here.