CONAMEND-RECALL OFFICIALS
HJRCA0004 is a proposed Illinois constitutional amendment that would expand and revise the state’s recall process. Under current law, recall procedures apply only to the Governor; this measure would create recall procedures for all State executive branch officers, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. It also changes the existing recall rules for the Governor, including petition thresholds, timing, certification deadlines, and the process for a successor election if a governor is recalled.
The proposal establishes a petition-and-election framework for each category of official. In general, a recall would begin with an affidavit filed with the State Board of Elections, followed by a petition signed by a specified percentage of voters, with the required percentage varying by office and, for local officials, by jurisdiction size. If the petition is valid, the recall question would go to voters at a general election or, for the Governor, potentially a special election. A three-fifths vote in favor of recall would remove the official, and the amendment also imposes a 10-year ban on serving again in the recalled office. It further provides procedures for replacement candidates in local recall elections and preserves other removal methods already available under law.
If adopted, the amendment would substantially alter Article III of the Illinois Constitution and create new constitutional recall rights and procedures for a broad range of state and local offices. It would expand the State Board of Elections’ role in validating petitions, certifying recall questions, and administering recall-related elections. The measure would also affect Article IV and Article V vacancy and succession rules by tying removal to existing replacement procedures for legislators and executive officers, while adding special rules for local offices and for recall ballot formatting and candidate participation.
The available record shows no committee transcript, recorded votes, or formal status information, so there is no documented legislative debate or vote history to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill’s content, the measure appears to reflect a reform-oriented, accountability-focused approach to elected office, but the absence of hearing materials means sentiment cannot be measured from the provided context. The bill is introduced by Rep. Dan Ugaste and is framed as a constitutional amendment to broaden voter control over officeholders.
The main points of contention likely center on the breadth of the recall power, the relatively low initial filing threshold, and the administrative burden of conducting recall elections for multiple levels of government. Supporters would likely emphasize accountability and voter oversight, while opponents may argue that the proposal could destabilize governance, invite frequent or partisan recall efforts, and create costly election procedures. Additional potential concerns include the different thresholds for local jurisdictions, the special treatment of legislative leaders and the Auditor General, and the 10-year disqualification from the recalled office.