SB12 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

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

Summary

It would authorize a recall process for elected state officials through general laws approved by the Legislature, via a constitutional amendment.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the amendment would let the Legislature establish recall procedures for elected state officers. Voters could initiate a recall after the first year, needing signatures equal to 25% of the last election's votes within 90 days, and a recall election would be held on the sixth Tuesday after determination. The incumbent would stay in office until results are official, and the recall winner would serve the remainder of the term, with the election run like a regular special election and no primary held. Grounds for recall include malfeasance, nonfeasance, lack of physical or mental fitness, incompetence, or violation of the oath; the Legislature could pass other laws to implement the amendment.

Who It Affects

• Voters/electors in Alabama would have a new mechanism to petition for and vote in recall elections for elected state officials.
• Incumbent elected state officials could be recalled after the first year of their term under specified grounds and would remain in office until the recall results are certified.

Key Provisions

• (a) The Legislature may provide by general law for recall of elected state officers; recall is in addition to impeachment.
• (b) The recall process includes a petition by electors after the first year; 25% signatures within 90 days; recall election held on the sixth Tuesday after determination; incumbent serves until results; other candidates may run; no primaries; election conducted like a special election; highest vote wins remainder term; only one recall petition per term.
• (c) Grounds for recall include malfeasance, nonfeasance, lack of physical or mental fitness, incompetence, and violation of oath.
• (d) The Legislature may enact other general laws to implement the amendment.

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