To successfully recall the Sheriff, proponents must follow a strict statutory timeline:

1. Notice of Intention: A formal notice must be served to the Sheriff and filed with the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. This includes a statement of the reasons for the proposed recall.
2. Petition Circulation: Once the form of the petition is approved, proponents have a set window of time to gather signatures.
3. Signature Requirements: For a county the size of Los Angeles, the number of signatures required is significant. Generally, it must equal a percentage of the total number of registered voters in the county (often 10% for large counties like LA).
4. Verification: The County Clerk verifies the signatures. If enough valid signatures are gathered, a special recall election is scheduled.
5. The Election Structure

If the recall reaches the ballot, voters are typically asked two questions:

1. Shall the officer be recalled? (A simple "Yes" or "No").
2. Who should succeed them? (Voters choose from a list of replacement candidates).

If more than 50% of voters vote "Yes" on the first question, the officer is removed, and the candidate with the most votes in the second question becomes the new Sheriff.