Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §9 is enacted to read:

§9.__Recall of county officers

The qualified electors of any county may petition for the recall of any elected county officer by filing a petition with the county clerk or county administrator demanding the recall of the elected official, except that counties that have adopted charters that include a recall process are exempt from the provisions of this section.

1.__Reasons for recall; petitions for recall.__An elected official may be subject to recall for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office. The petition must be signed by a number of electors of the political subdivision represented by that elected official equal to at least 15% of the vote cast during the last regular county commissioner election within that political subdivision. The recall petition must state the reason for which removal is sought.

2. Sufficiency of petitions; calling of recall elections; notification.__Within 3 days after the petition is offered for filing, the clerk or administrator with whom the petition is left shall determine by careful examination whether the petition is sufficient and so state in a certificate attached to the petition. If the petition is found to be insufficient, the certificate must state the particulars creating the insufficiency. The petition may be amended to correct any insufficiency within 5 days following the affixing of the original certificate. Within 2 days after the offering of the amended petition for filing, it must again be carefully examined to determine sufficiency and a certificate stating the findings must be attached. Immediately upon finding an original or amended petition sufficient, the clerk or administrator with whom the petition is left shall file the petition with the county commissioners.__The commissioners shall call a special recall election to be held not less than 30 days nor more than 35 days from the filing date. The elected county official against whom the recall petition is filed must be notified of the special election within 24 hours of the calling of the special election.

3.__Form of ballot.__Unless the county officer whose removal is sought has resigned before the receipt by the county commissioners of the certificate of sufficiency, a recall election must be held.__The form of the ballot at such election must follow the format:__"Shall (name of county official) be recalled?" If a majority of those voting on this question votes in favor of the recall, that official is removed and the county commissioners shall order an election to fill the vacancy.