Michigan's Recall Election
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CitizensCitizens ResearResearchch CCouncilouncil ofof MichiganMichigan Michigan’sMichigan’s RecRecallall ElecElectiontion LLaaww JuneJune 20122012 RepReporortt 379379 CELEBRATING 96 YEARS OF INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN Board of Directors Chair Vice Chair Treasurer Jeffrey D. Bergeron Terence M. Donnelly Aleksandra A. Miziolek Jeffrey D. Bergeron John J. Gasparovic Cathy Nash Ernst & Young LLP BorgWarner Inc. Citizens Bank Michael G. Bickers Ingrid A. Gregg Paul R. Obermeyer PNC Financial Services Group Earhart Foundation Comerica Bank Beth Chappell Marybeth S. Howe Brian Peters Detroit Economic Club Wells Fargo Bank Michigan Health & Hospital Association Mark A. Davidoff Nick A. Khouri Kevin Prokop Deloitte LLP DTE Energy Company Rockbridge Growth Equity, LLC Terence M. Donnelly Daniel T. Lis Lynda Rossi Dickinson Wright PLLC Kelly Services, Inc. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Randall W. Eberts Sarah L. McClelland Jerry E. Rush W. E. Upjohn Institute JPMorgan Chase & Co. Meritor, Inc. David O. Egner Michael P. McGee Michael A. Semanco Hudson-Webber Foundation Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Hennessey Capital LLC New Economy Initiative Stone PLC Terence A. Thomas, Sr. Laura Fournier Aleksandra A. Miziolek Thomas Group Consulting, Inc. Compuware Dykema Gossett PLLC Kent J. Vana Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. Jim Murray Varnum Manoogian Foundation AT&T Michigan Theodore J. Vogel CMS Energy Corporation Advisory Director Louis Betanzos Board of Trustees Chair Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. Terence E. Adderley Ralph J. Gerson Sarah L. McClelland Irving Rose Kelly Services, Inc. Guardian Industries Corporation JPMorgan Chase & Co. Edward Rose & Sons Jeffrey D. Bergeron Eric R. Gilbertson Paul W. McCracken George E. Ross Ernst & Young LLP Saginaw Valley State University University of Michigan, Emeritus Central Michigan University Stephanie W. Bergeron Allan D. Gilmour Patrick M. McQueen Gary D. Russi Walsh College Wayne State University McQueen Financial Advisors Oakland University David P. Boyle Alfred R. Glancy III Robert Milewski Nancy M. Schlichting PNC Unico Investment Group LLC Blue Cross Blue Shield Henry Ford Health System Beth Chappell Thomas J. Haas of Michigan John M. Schreuder Detroit Economic Club Grand Valley State University Glenn D. Mroz First National Bank of Michigan Mary Sue Coleman James S. Hilboldt Michigan Technological University Lloyd A. Semple University of Michigan The Connable Office, Inc. Mark A. Murray University of Detroit Mercy Matthew P. Cullen Paul C. Hillegonds Meijer Inc. School of Law Rock Ventures LLC DTE Energy Company Cathy H. Nash Lou Anna K. Simon Tarik Daoud Daniel J. Kelly Citizens Bank Michigan State University Long Family Service Center Deloitte. Retired James M. Nicholson S. Martin Taylor Stephen R. D’Arcy David B. Kennedy PVS Chemicals Amanda Van Dusen Detroit Medical Center Earhart Foundation Donald R. Parfet Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC John M. Dunn Mary Kramer Apjohn Group LLC Western Michigan University Crain Communications, Inc. Sandra E. Pierce Kent J. Vana Varnum David O. Egner Gordon Krater Charter One Theodore J. Vogel Hudson-Webber Foundation Plante & Moran PLLC Philip H. Power CMS Energy Corporation New Economy Initiative David Leitch The Center for Michigan Gail L. Warden David L. Eisler Ford Motor Company Keith A. Pretty Henry Ford Health System, Ferris State University Northwood University Edward C. Levy, Jr. Emeritus David G. Frey Edw. C. Levy Co. John Rakolta Jr. Jeffrey K. Willemain Frey Foundation Walbridge Daniel Little Deloitte. Mark T. Gaffney University of Michigan-Dearborn Douglas B. Roberts Leslie E. Wong IPPSR- Michigan State University Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. Alphonse S. Lucarelli Northern Michigan University Manoogian Foundation Ernst & Young LLP, Retired Milt Rohwer Frey Foundation Citizens Research Council of Michigan is a tax deductible 501(c)(3) organization Citizens Research Council of Michigan Michigan’s Recall Election Law June 2012 Report 379 CITIZENS RESEARCH COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN MAIN OFFICE 38777 Six Mile Road, Suite 208 • Livonia, MI 48152-3974 • 734 -542-8001 • Fax 734-542-8004 LANSING OFFICE 124 West Allegan, Suite 620 • Lansing, MI 48933-1738 • 517-485-9444 • Fax 517-485-0423 CRCMICH.ORG MICHIGAN’S RECALL ELECTION LAW Contents Summary .................................................................................................................... iii Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Michigan Recall Activity from 2000 to 2011 ............................................................... 2 The Geography of Michigan Recalls ................................................................................ 5 Financial Costs of Recall ................................................................................................ 5 Costs to Democracy ...................................................................................................... 8 An Interstate Comparison of the Number of Recalls .................................................. 9 Arguments against Recall ......................................................................................... 13 Special Interest Influence ............................................................................................ 13 Unintended Consequences .......................................................................................... 14 Arguments for Recall ................................................................................................ 14 A Comparison of Recall Models ................................................................................. 15 Michigan’s Recall Model ............................................................................................... 15 Alternate Models for Recall .......................................................................................... 16 Grounds for Recall ................................................................................................. 16 Petition Signature Requirements ............................................................................. 17 Period for Petition Circulation ................................................................................. 18 Officials Subject to Recall ....................................................................................... 19 Recall Election Process........................................................................................... 20 Recall Immunity Periods......................................................................................... 22 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 23 Appendices ................................................................................................................ 24 Citizens Research Council of Michigan i CRC Report Charts Chart 1 Number of Elected Officials Facing Recall in Michigan, 2000 - 2011 ......................... 2 Chart 2 Number and Distribution of Recall-Eligible Elected Officials in Michigan, by Government Type ........................................................................................... 3 Chart 3 Distribution of Officials Facing Recall, By Government Type, 2000 - 2011 ................ 4 Chart 4 Number of Recall Elections in Michigan, 2000 - 2011 ............................................. 6 Chart 5 Comparing the Number of Elected Officials Facing Recall with the Number of Recall Elections in Michigan, 2000 - 2011 ................................ 8 Chart 6 Number of Officials Facing Recall Vote, by Year, 2000 - 2011 .................................. 9 Chart 7 Average Number of Elected Officials Facing Recall Election Each Year, 2000 - 2011 ..................................................................................................... 10 Chart 8 Average Number of Elected Officials Facing Recall per Year as Percentage of Total Eligible Officials, 2000 - 2011 ........................................... 12 Tables Table 1 Recall Totals Compared with Critical State Characteristics ....................................... 9 Table 2 Grounds for Recall by State ............................................................................... 16 Table 3 Signature Requirements by State ....................................................................... 17 Table 4 Local Government Petition Circulation Periods by State ........................................ 19 Table 5 Public Officials Eligible for Recall by State ........................................................... 19 Table 6 Recall Election Process by State ......................................................................... 20 Table 7 Recall Immunity Periods by State ....................................................................... 22 ii Citizens Research Council of Michigan MICHIGAN’S RECALL ELECTION LAW Summary Recall is a procedure that allows citizens to remove and years has drawn attention to this policy issue. This re- replace a public official before the end of a term of of- port assesses the recall process in a number of ways. fice. It differs from other devices for removing public First, how does the frequency and use of recalls in Michi- officials from office – impeachment and expulsion – in gan compare to earlier periods within the state and with that it is a political device while impeachment is a legal other states that authorize recall? Second, what are the process