Recall elections and impeachment differ significantly in purpose and process. A recall election is a direct democratic mechanism allowing voters to remove elected officials from office before their term ends, typically instigated through a petition process. In contrast, impeachment is a constitutional process where legislative bodies, like Congress, accuse an official of misconduct, potentially leading to removal from office. While recalls are often politically driven by public dissatisfaction, impeachment is primarily grounded in legal grounds such as treason, bribery, or "high crimes and misdemeanors." Both mechanisms reflect the checks on power, but through very different avenues.