Recall

The term recall has a number of meanings. A recall can be associated with a recall election, in which a public official can be removed from office before their term has expired by a vote of the people. During a recall, an elected official is retired by a vote of the electorate. Many states require the signing of a petition before allowing a recall election. A recall also refers to a product recall, where an item that is discovered to have safety issues or a defect is returned to a manufacturer for repair, replacement or refund. A product recall is used to limit corporate exposure to liability and negative publicity. There is also the recall associated with employment. Recall occurs when an individual who has been terminated due to layoff, is asked to return to regular employment during a recall period.