Recall elections are available only if the municipality’s charter authorizes them. Procedures for recall elections are found in T.C.A. § 2-5-151, but these provisions do not apply in Nashville-Davidson County. Recall petitions must contain one or more specific grounds for removal. T.C.A. § 6-53-108.

Petitions for Recall, Referendum, or Initiative
T.C.A. § 2-5-151 outlines procedures for cities having charter provisions for recall, referendum, or initiative. The statute contains extensive rules, including:

• A registered voter must submit the prepared petition and question to the county election commission, which must certify within 30 days whether it is proper;
• The individual who files has 15 days to fix any problems;
• The petition must include the question, the printed name of each signer, the date of the signature, and the signatures of at least 15 percent of the city’s registered voters;
• The completed petition must be filed within 75 days after certification by the election commission and at least 60 days before the election; and
• Individuals have eight days after filing to remove their names from the petition.

Since July 1, 1997, a municipality has been allowed to enact or re-enact controlling charter requirements relative to the number of signatures required and the 75-day deadline after election commission certification of the petition. T.C.A. § 2-5-151.