POLITICS

Maine Secretary Removes Transgender Sports Initiative From Ballot

PUBLISHED May 26, 2026, 2:28 PM ET

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Portland, Maine. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled Tuesday that an initiative from Protect Girls Sports in Maine, which sought to restrict school sports and bathroom access based on the gender listed on students' birth certificates, will be removed from the November ballot after officials found the petition lacked enough valid signatures. The ruling followed a staff review that found more than 12,000 invalid signatures, leaving the petition a few hundred short of the 67,682 required; Protect Girls Sports has announced it will appeal and take the matter to court, and supporters including Rep. Laurel Libby say the question could resurface before voters in 2026 or 2027.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Protect Girls Sports in Maine drafted an initiative to restrict sports and facilities by birth sex.
Last year Maine became a battleground after public disagreements involving state and national figures.
Petition circulators gathered signatures to qualify the question for a November ballot.
On Tuesday the Secretary of State determined over 12,000 signatures were invalid, leaving the petition short of 67,682 required.
Protect Girls Sports announced it will pursue court challenges; proponents expect a possible 2026 or 2027 ballot.

News Intelligence

This decision impacts Maine's school sports and facilities access. If you're a parent, educator, or student, it's worth understanding the debate. Check your local school district's policies on gender and sports participation.

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Who Benefited

Supporters of the Protect Girls Sports initiative retain legal avenues to challenge the Secretary of State's ruling in court and may gain time to reorganize petition efforts for future ballots in 2026 or 2027.

Who Impacted

Transgender students and campaigners opposing restrictions experienced a setback as the ballot question was removed, prolonging uncertainty about immediate policy outcomes and delaying a public vote on the measure.

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