Arlington voters could recall elected town officials by petition and election

Arlington registered voters could start a recall effort against any elected town official by filing an affidavit. The affidavit must be signed by at least 50 Arlington registered voters and name the official, the office, and the grounds for recall. The Town Clerk would send the affidavit to the Board of Registrars of Voters for signature verification. If enough signatures are verified, the Town Clerk would give petition sheets to the first 10 voters who signed the affidavit. Those voters would need to collect signatures from at least 20 percent of Arlington's registered voters. The Board of Registrars of Voters would verify the initial signatures within 14 calendar days, and the 10 petition holders would have 20 days after receiving the sheets to file them.

The Select Board would order a recall election if the targeted officer does not resign after receiving notice of a certified petition. The election would concern the officer named in the certified petition, and voters could also choose a successor at the same election. The officer would have 5 calendar days after notice to resign. The Select Board would set the election date between 64 and 90 days after receiving the certified petition. If another town election is scheduled within 100 days, the Select Board could postpone the recall vote and place it on that election ballot. The officer facing recall could run to succeed themself. The election would be ordered after certification and, unless postponed for a qualifying town election, held 64 to 90 days after the Select Board receives the certified petition.

Voters would decide separately whether to recall the officer and which candidate should fill the office. The incumbent would remain in office until the recall election, and a recalled or resigning officer could not be appointed to a town office for 2 years. If a majority votes for recall, the candidate with the most votes would be elected to the open office. If fewer than a majority votes for recall, candidate votes would not be counted. If the officer is not recalled, the officer would continue serving the unexpired term. A recall affidavit could not be filed during the officer's first 3 months in office or final 3 months of the term, or within 3 months after an unsuccessful recall vote. The 2-year appointment restriction would begin after the recall or resignation; the filing limits would apply during the stated periods before and after a recall election.