What determines whether the recall election would be a special election in the fall or a March election next year?
It depends entirely on when signatures are turned in to county election officials and how many signatures are determined to be valid. By law official signature counts are based upon the aforementioned 30-day periodic reports issued by county officials to the Secretary of State. If the Secretary of State certifies no later than September 3, 2003 that the necessary number of registered voters (897,158) have signed recall petitions, then the Lieutenant Governor must call an election within 60-80 days. If the Secretary of State certifies on September 4, 2003 or later that the necessary number of registered voters have signed recall petitions, the Lieutenant Governor has the option of consolidating the recall election with the regularly scheduled March 2, 2004 primary election.
