A lawsuit in Missouri is seeking to stop a recall election against Independence City Councilman John Perkins, even after election officials said petition organizers collected enough valid signatures to put the issue before voters.
What happened?
Three plaintiffs — Joyce White, former Independence City Councilman Jason White, and Helen Hurley — sued the city of Independence, arguing that the petition seeking Perkins’ recall does not meet legal requirements and that the city’s charter-based recall system is unconstitutional.
As FOX4 reported, they also contend that organizers failed to collect a sufficient number of valid signatures and that their second submission came after the charter deadline.
The Jackson County Election Board, however, said organizers first submitted signatures on May 26. After that initial filing came up short, the board allowed a 10-day amendment period, and a second batch was submitted on June 8. Election officials ultimately confirmed 1,214 valid signatures spread across 190 pages…