NEWPORT — Lincoln Co. Clerk Amy Southwell ruled Tuesday that organizers of a Recall Claire Hall petition met the required number of signatures to force the incumbent county commissioner to resign or face a special election in January.

Elections workers verified 3,945 signatures that were turned in last month, disregarding 868 signers that exceeded the necessary amount. The petition accuses Hall of eroding transparency, mismanaging public meetings, and fostering a hostile work environment — issues that have simmered for months among staff and residents alike.

According to rules set forth in a state Recall Manual, Hall has five days from Dec. 2 to resign or file a 200-word “statement of justification” on why she should remain in office. If Hall stands for a special election, the balloting would take place about 35 days after the statement deadline on or around Jan. 6.

If the recall passes, Hall would exit office immediately. The vacant seat would be filled through appointment by the two remaining commissioners, Casey Miller and Walter Chuck.

In a Tuesday news release, recall organizer Christine Hutchins remarked, “Thank you to all the signature gatherers and citizens of Lincoln County that signed our petition.”