Updated May 4 at 10:18 p.m.
Results from 47 of 47 Collin County vote centers show McKinney residents voting in favor of two amendments to the city's charter. Results are unofficial until canvassed.
Changes to the charter ease the requirements that trigger a recall election by requiring fewer signatures.
Approximately 60% of voters approved proposition F, which calls for 45 days for residents to turn in signatures and lowers the number of signatures needed. Nearly 79% of voters approved proposition G, which clarifies that recall elections are city wide.
Under the changes, residents have 45 days to turn in signatures to the city secretary. The amendment also requires signatures from at least 30% of voters who cast ballots in the last regular municipal election. These amendments will not go into effect until results are canvassed.
Under the current charter, residents have 30 days to turn in signatures and must have signatures from at least 25% of the total number of voters who cast ballots in the last municipal election, provided that the petition contains signatures of at least 15% of qualified voters, or whichever number is higher.
Discussions about the recall procedures in December took place nearly two weeks after City Council Member La’Shadion Shemwell was arrested
Dec. 6 on suspicion of continuous violence against the family. Shemwell said in a previous interview that he agrees a recall election by residents should be achievable but that what happens in someone’s personal life does not impact residents or decisions made on council.
The city’s charter states a recall petition must be signed by at least 25% of the total number of voters who cast ballots in the last regular municipal election, provided, however, that the petition contains the signatures of at least 15 percent of qualified voters, or whichever number is higher.
The city charter related to recall petitions has not been updated since 1959, City Attorney Mark Houser said.
More about the city charter can be found
here.