Governor Gavin Newsom
Orrin E. Heatlie and 124 others (February 21, 2020)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Calendar of Events (PDF)
- 1/8/21 Stipulated Order (PDF)
- Cumulative Statewide Summary as of 4/26/2021 (PDF)
- Petition Signature Reports
- Official Top Funders of Governor's Recall
Status of the Recall Effort
As of April 26, 2021, the requisite number of valid signatures has been reported to our office to initiate the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom. However, county elections officials must continue to verify the validity of any remaining signatures and must report the final signature verification on April 29, 2021.
The next phase of the recall process is the 30-business day period in which voters may request county elections officials to remove their names from recall petitions. County elections officials must report any withdrawn signatures to the Secretary of State within ten business days of the end of the signature withdrawal period. The Secretary of State must then determine if the petition still has the requisite number of valid signatures to initiate a recall election.
If it is determined that that there is not the requisite number of valid signatures, the recall effort would fail. However, if it is determined that there is still the requisite number of valid signatures to initiate a recall election, the Secretary of State must promptly notify the Department of Finance of the results. (Elec. Code, § 11108(c) and (d))
Within 30 business days of this notification, the Department of Finance consults with county elections officials and the Secretary of State to estimate the costs of the recall election and submits this estimate to the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), Governor, and the Secretary of State. (Elec. Code, § 11108(d))
The JLBC then has 30 days to review and comment on the estimate provided to them by the Department of Finance. (Elec. Code, § 11108(e))
After the JLBC’s 30-day review and comment period, the Secretary of State will certify that the proponents have submitted enough valid signatures to qualify the recall for the ballot. (Elec. Code, §§ 11108(e) and 11109)
The Lieutenant Governor is then required to call a recall election to be held not less than 60 days nor more than 80 days from the date of certification of sufficient signatures. (Cal. Const., art. II, §§ 15 and 17)
How to Withdraw a Signature from the Recall Petition
Any voter who has signed the recall petition may provide a written request to their county elections official to have their signature removed from the petition within 30 business days. Voters seeking to withdraw their signature from the recall petition should submit the withdrawal request to the county elections official where the voter lived at the time they signed the petition.
Written signature withdrawal requests must be received by the appropriate county elections official between April 26, 2021, and June 8, 2021. County elections officials must report the total number of withdrawn signatures to the Secretary of State by June 22, 2021.
No specific format is required; however, the withdrawal must include the following:
- Voter’s name
- Residence address (at time of signing the recall petition)
- Voter’s signature
