How to Recall a U.S. Senator

Senators have to find a balance between voting their conscience and voting as their constituents would like. If senators vote their conscience too heavily, constituents tend to get angry. When this happens, constituents may ask for a recall of their U.S. Senator.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Consider your location. Few states allow for a recall of a senator-only 18 and the District of Columbia. If you're not living in one of these states you have no constitutional rights to recall.

2. Determine the grounds for recall. You'll need this information to make your case to the population but in 7 of the 18 states specific grounds are actually required. In these states, if your reasons don't measure up, you won't be allowed to proceed with the recall.

3. Get signatures. You'll need a petition to get a recall election. The number of signatures is usually a percentage of the voters at the last election but this differs by state.

4. Prepare for a response. At some point during the process, the senator will be notified that a petition for recall is being circulated. She will then have a chance to respond to the allegations.

5. Get voters to the recall election. Once the recall election is granted, alert the community and get them out to vote. The ballot will ask whether or not the senator should be recalled and the state may hold an election at the same time to elect the next person for that office.

Tips & Warnings

• The 18 states allowing for recall are as follows: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.
• A website or a phone campaign are good ways to get your petition going. Going door-to-door is also an option although it is more time consuming than the other two. This is important since you only have a set number of days to obtain the correct number of signatures-anywhere from 30 to 180 days.
• You will be fighting an uphill battle to recall a U.S. Senator. No member of Congress has ever been recalled in the history of the United States.

[mtrifle]

on 12/26/2009 Reply to der123. I would imagine that you would really understand what it is like to be retarded. As a matter of fact, medicare is unconstitutional. It could and should be done by the states as the federal govt. has no authority to have any social programs. If you were as smart as you think you are you should read the constitution and you might learn something. Plus maybe you should read that sticky little bill of rights. Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than open your mouth like you did, and remove all doubt. You seem to have a little trouble with these founding doccuments don't you. Are you one of those people/liberals who think that they are not relevant? Just remember this, our forefathers fought and died to protect those doccuments and there are untold thousands of us who are not only ready, but quite able to do the same. This is primarily a Christi...

[lordc]

on 12/24/2009 Lets do this too Colorado! No legislation without proper representation!

[thunderbob]

on 12/24/2009 For the Nebraska people, make flyers with Nelson picture and the liar under, list what he did and pass them around.be sure to send one to his house, office and every public building! by the way, he will vote no on the final bill, because they only need 51 to pass it! A john kerry move of I voted for it, before i read it to vote against it.

[metalfan20]

on 12/23/2009 I'm trying to do the same in calfornia. the only thing wrong with this is that there is no link to officail guide or forms.

[mod30]

on 12/23/2009 I just took the time to contact my state senator and ask her to present a bill to the Nebraska Legislature in the 2010 session allowing the voters of Nebraska the right to recalll any elected official to incude sitting U. S. Senators.

I encourage you all to do the same if your state does not have the provision.

No matter your stance on the issues facing us as a community and a Nation, VOTE!