CALIFORNIA - The drive to recall Governor Newsom is picking up steam as the petition needs 1.5 million verified signatures in just the next few weeks.

Right now over 1.8 million people have signed, but the signatures still need to be verified.

Action News Now spoke to Keaton Denlay who is the Manager for Butte County Elections. 

He said each county has to verify its own signatures. 

"Our office here is checking all the signatures for Butte County voters. If a voter signs a petition in Butte County but maybe they live somewhere else, that signature will be sent to the county they are registered in and it will be verified there," explained Denlay. "By comparing them to the address and signature on file for the voters' voter registration."

The counties validate their signatures by March 17.

Counties then have until April 29 to certify the results of their verification of signatures.

 "I understand why people are unhappy with him, especially people who have shut their businesses down or lost their jobs. I also don't think it will change anything he will just get re-elected so it is a waste of time and money," said Randy Harmon who is from Redding.

"It feels like you know there is nothing positive coming from anything the governor has done before, he is double backing everything he wants to push. Especially recently with the mask-wearing and all this stuff, but he can go to his big cocktail parties and there is no backlash, he just says sorry and brush it under the rug and move on," said Michael Eppstein who is also from Redding. 

"I think we could spend money better elsewhere. I feel like for a special election it is a lot of money to spend," said Deborah Calo.

"It sounds like they gathered enough signatures state-wide to consider it. So I can agree with that, I am concerned I have not spent enough time researching, but a completely mail-in election sounds a little questionable to me, especially if it is Gavin Newsom himself deciding it is a mail-in election," said Whiteney Cox.

Denlay said if there are enough signatures, people interested in running for governor have a period in which they can announce their candidacy.

Sendy Perez from Glenn County explained they are not sure when the special election would be if there is one, but she said it looks like it would be in the fall.