Overview

This bill proposes a system for recalling elected representatives in England and Wales. If a sufficient number of voters sign a petition expressing a loss of confidence, a recall election will be held. If a majority votes to recall the representative, a by-election will follow.

Description

This act allows voters to initiate a recall of their elected representatives under specific conditions.

Initiating a Recall

1% of registered voters in a constituency must sign a "notice-of-intent-to-recall" petition. The Secretary of State will create rules governing petition submission. A returning officer verifies the petition; if valid, a recall petition is made available for signature for eight weeks.

Recall Petition Success

The petition succeeds if at least 20% of registered voters sign it. A recall election is then held within two months.

Recall Election

The ballot asks if the representative should be recalled. If a majority votes "yes", the representative is recalled and a by-election is held (unless elected under proportional representation, in which case rules set by the Secretary of State will apply for selecting a replacement).

Rules and Regulations

The Secretary of State will create rules for petition submission and recall election procedures, subject to parliamentary approval.

Government Spending

The cost of by-elections resulting from successful recall petitions will be covered by the Consolidated Fund (UK Government). The costs of recall petitions and elections themselves will be borne by the relevant local authority, not affecting central government grants.

Groups Affected

• Elected Representatives: Risk of recall and potential loss of office.
• Voters: Gain the power to initiate recalls of underperforming representatives.
• Local Authorities: Responsible for funding recall petitions and elections.
• Returning Officers: Responsible for managing the petition and election processes.
• Secretary of State: Responsible for creating and implementing rules and regulations for the process.

Powered by nyModel