A fourth element, which should be overlooked under
no circumstances, is the vote at the special election which
may be required to displace an officer against whom a
petition for recall has been filed. The recall petition
may be divided into two parts. The question, " Shall
the officer against whom the petition has been filed be
recalled ? " may be submitted separately, and it may be
provided that the officer shall not be deemed recalled un-
less there is cast against him an absolute majority of all
the votes cast in the special election or a vote equivalent
to a majority of all the votes cast at the election at which



70 American City Government

he was at first chosen. If 'an officer mav be recalled
by a mere majority of those voting at the special election,
he may be thrown out of office by a small minority of the
electors of the city in case a light vote is polled. In most
cities having the recall, however, the proposition, " Shall
the officer against whom the petition is filed be recalled? "
is not separately submitted to popular vote, but, after
the filing of the petition against him, the officer in ques-
tion is simply allowed to stand as a candidate for reelec-
tion and to retain his office only in case he polls the high-
est vote at the special election.
