Arizona Constitution Practice Test

To recall any elected official, recall petitions must have valid signatures equaling?

1. 15% of the number of votes cast in the last general election for that office

2. 25% of the number of votes cast in the last general election for that office

3. 40% of the number of votes cast in the last general election for that office

4. 50% of the number of votes cast in the last general election for that office

The correct answer is: 25% of the number of votes cast in the last general election for that office

The requirement for recall petitions in Arizona is that they must gather valid signatures totaling 25% of the number of votes cast in the last general election for the office of the official being recalled. This specific percentage is established in the Arizona Constitution and seeks to ensure that a significant portion of the electorate supports the recall effort, reflecting a break from the public’s confidence in the elected official. The rationale behind this requirement is to balance the democratic process by allowing voters to hold elected officials accountable while ensuring that the process is not misused or abused through a very low threshold for signatures. This 25% threshold aims to demonstrate a substantial demand from the electorate for the recall, thereby legitimizing the effort and maintaining the integrity of the electoral system.