Maine transgender sports ballot initiative halted by invalid signatures
The Story
An initiative to limit transgender students’ participation in sports in Maine has been removed from the November ballot because of invalid signatures, the secretary of state ruled Tuesday. The proposal from the parents’ group Protect Girls Sports in Maine would have asked voters to require public schools to restrict bathroom and sports access based on the gender on a child’s birth certificate. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said her staff found more than 12,000 signatures were invalid, leaving the petition a few hundred short of the 67,682 required.
Key Facts
- The Maine secretary of state ruled the initiative ineligible for the November ballot due to invalid signatures on the petition.
- Protect Girls Sports in Maine proposed the measure, which would have required schools to restrict bathrooms and sports based on birth certificate gender.
- More than 12,000 signatures were deemed invalid, leaving the total a few hundred below the required 67,682.
- The petitioners have 10 days to appeal the decision and may try for a future ballot.
- At least 19 states have laws banning transgender girls and women from using girls’ and women’s bathrooms in public schools, with enforcement of one law (Montana) put on hold by a court.
- At least 30 states have laws or policies seeking to keep transgender girls and women out of girls’ and women’s sports, with some laws blocked by courts.
- None of the existing bathroom or sports restriction laws were enacted through ballot measures.
- Two other Democratic-controlled states, Colorado and Washington, have sports-related laws on the November ballot.
Conflicting Reports
The principal officer of Protect Girls Sports in Maine, Leyland Streiff, stated the group disagrees with the secretary of state’s decision and is working to ensure full judicial review, arguing that courts should have the final word. Opponents of the initiative, such as the Campaign for Free and Fair Schools, agreed with the decision, saying the petitioners failed to follow the rules.
Still Unclear
It remains unclear whether the group will successfully appeal within the 10-day window or attempt to place the initiative on a future ballot.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State (Democrat running for governor)
- Leyland Streiff, principal officer of Protect Girls Sports in Maine
- David Farmer, campaign manager for the Campaign for Free and Fair Schools (opposed the initiative)
- Janet Mills, Democratic Governor of Maine (mentioned as having public disagreement with President Trump)
- President Donald Trump (mentioned as championing restrictions and issuing executive orders on transgender athletes)
Sources: abcnews.com
