When voters are given their freedom at the ballot box to vote to retain or not to retain, they certainly take advantage of such an opportunity or elsewhere. The 2020 election saw Kosciusko County voters respond in the following way on local public questions.
1. Shall Indiana Supreme Court Justice Christopher M.?Goff be retained in office. Yes - 22,573/No - 4,703
2. Shall Indiana Court of Appeals 3rd District Judge Elizabeth Thoman Travitas be retained in office. Yes - 22,622/No - 4,184
3. Shall Indiana Court of Appeals 4th District Judge Melissa S. May be retained in office. Yes - 22/431/No - 4,220
4. Shall Indiana Court of Appeals 5th District Judge Elaine B. Brown be retained in office. Yes - 22,609/No, 4,251
5. Shall Indiana Court of Appeals 5th District Judge Margret G. Robb be retained in office. Yes - 22,499/No - 4,350
As one can see from above there is more than substantial participation from the general public when such as option is offered. The vote to retain or not to retain option should be added to Indiana ballots for all elected state positions whether local, county, state or federal during non-election years for those particular offices. This would become an annual November job performance evaluation and is not meant to be a substitute for recall elections or impeachment proceedings but an additional tool to be used alongside those options as well as with a None of the Above is acceptable option as was discussed in a previous letter to the editor. It would also have the additional effect of increasing voter turnout in odd number election years. Additionally certain appointed offices or boards at the local, county and state levels could be added as the vote to retain or not to retain public questions.
If a local, county or state official is removed the remainder of the term would have to be filled by an appointee or the winner of a special election depending on the type of position. In regards to the federal offices, voters would decide if their current U.S. representative or U.S. senator would remain in office as part of the annual November general evaluation. If a U.S. Representative is removed, the vacancy would be filled by special election. For U.S. senator, it would be filled by a temporary appointment followed by a special election to serve the remainder of the term as provided for in the 17th Amendment.
As for the president of the United States, if a majority of voters in each state vote to remove, the Electoral College electors would convene from that state to vote for removal.
A total of at least 270 electoral votes in favor of removal plus winning majorities in 30 states or a 3/5 majority of the total states in the Union would be needed to remove. Upon remove, the vice president as the next one in line for succession would then become president.
