SB17 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Elected state officials, Legislature authorized to recall by general law, const. amend.

Summary

SB17 would let Alabama lawmakers create a recall process by general law to remove elected state officials through petitions and recall elections.

What This Bill Does

The Legislature could establish a recall procedure for elected state officers. A recall petition could be filed after the first year of a term, requiring signatures from at least 25% of the votes cast in the last election for that office. If enough signatures are gathered, a recall election would be held on the sixth Tuesday after determination, the incumbent stays in office until results are official, and the winner serves the remainder of the term with no primaries. Grounds for recall include malfeasance, nonfeasance, lack of physical or mental fitness, incompetence, or violation of the oath, and the Legislature may enact additional implementing laws.

Who It Affects

• Elected state officials who could be recalled and potentially removed from office through the recall process.
• Qualified electors and voters who may petition for recall and vote in recall elections.

Key Provisions

• Allows the Legislature to enact general laws creating a recall process for elected state officials.
• Requires a recall petition to be filed after the first year of the term and signed by at least 25% of the votes cast for the office in the last election.
• Calls a recall election within the sixth Tuesday after the petition is deemed sufficient; no primaries are held and the highest vote-getter serves the remainder of the term.
• Limits one recall petition per officer per term.
• Grounds for recall include malfeasance, nonfeasance, lack of physical or mental fitness, incompetence, or violation of the oath.
• The Legislature may enact additional general laws necessary to implement the recall process.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments