Sawant's Campaign Will Help Gather Signatures to Put Her Own Recall on the November Ballot
At a press conference on Friday, Councilmember Kshama Sawant signed a petition to recall herself from office. That's because the Recall Sawant and the Kshama Solidarity campaigns now share a common goal: they both want to gather enough signatures to get the recall on the November ballot.
Seems weird, right? Especially since the Kshama Solidarity campaign has raised over $569,000 to oppose the recall. But, as it turns out, the strategy actually makes sense.
Recall Sawant needs to gather 10,739 signatures to get on a ballot. They started that process on April 22, and they need to finish that process by October 19 to qualify for an election. If they hit that October deadline, the recall will go on a special election ballot in December, January, or February, depending on when the elections department gets around to verifying and certifying the signatures. But if the recall campaign turns in enough signatures by August 3, then the recall will go on this November's general election ballot. That’s because King County Elections must hold an election for the recall between 45 and 90 days after receiving and certifying the signatures.
Previously, Henry Bridger, the campaign manager and chair of Recall Sawant, told the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog that the recall campaign didn't want to make it on the November ballot. In the last 12 years, general elections in King County averaged a 25% higher turnout than February special elections. Higher turnout has traditionally been better for progressive candidates. And in this year's general, Seattle will be voting on the mayor, two city council positions, the city attorney, and the Compassion Seattle charter amendment, which will draw a higher turnout than a special election in the winter.
Read more: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/07/09/58911378/sawants-campaign-will-help-gather-signatures-to-put-her-own-recall-on-the-november-ballot