Retention election
From Judgepedia
A retention election or judicial retention is a periodic process whereby a judge is subject to a vote during an election. A judge is removed from the position if the majority of those voting decree that it will be so.
A judicial retention vote differs from regular voting in that when voting for judicial retention, a voter is not choosing between opposing candidates. In a retention election, the incumbent judge is not being evaluated against an opponent. Rather, the voter expresses approval or disapproval of a particular judge. A judge remains in the position by a simple majority of approval votes.
Retention votes are frequently thought of in connection with the commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection. However, some states that choose state Supreme Court justices for their initial term in office using partisan or non-partisan elections, use a retention election for subsequent terms on the court.
Retention votes in 2008
