What is the process by which voters can remove an elected official from office before the end of their term?

The process by which voters can remove an elected official from office before the end of their term is known as a recall. This mechanism is a form of direct democracy that allows citizens to hold elected officials accountable between elections by collecting enough signatures to trigger a special election. If successful, the officials may be removed from office if a majority of voters choose to do so in the election.

In contrast, impeachment is a constitutional process primarily applicable to certain high-ranking officials, including the President, usually involving legislative bodies. It requires a formal charge of wrongdoing and can lead to removal from office, but is not initiated directly by the populace.

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a proposed law or amendment, typically related to policy issues, rather than the specific removal of an office holder.

An initiative allows voters to propose legislation or constitutional amendments through a petition process, but it does not pertain to the removal of elected officials.

Thus, the correct option precisely describes the process that empowers voters to take action against elected officials, distinguishing it from other mechanisms of political accountability.