Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled that a proposed ballot initiative banning trans students from school sports and bathrooms will not appear on the November ballot. The campaign initially submitted 79,692 signatures, exceeding the 67,682 required, and the question was certified for the ballot in March. Later evidence showed improper signature-gathering procedures and documented forgery. After a court remand, an evidentiary hearing, and a sworn-testimony review, 12,542 signatures were invalidated, leaving the campaign 532 signatures short. The ruling means transgender students in Maine can expect more protection during this election cycle. The findings included unattended petition forms at polling places and sworn testimony contradicted by submitted photographs.
"Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled that a proposed ballot initiative banning trans students from school sports and bathrooms will not appear before voters this November. The billionaire-funded campaign initially submitted 79,692 signatures - well over the 67,682 required to qualify - and the Secretary of State's office certified the question for the ballot in March. But indications soon emerged that the signature-gathering process was riddled with improper procedures and, in at least one documented case and potentially many others, outright forgery."
"After a court remand, an evidentiary hearing, and a sworn-testimony review of the petitions, 12,542 signatures were invalidated, leaving the campaign 532 short of the threshold. Barring an appeal - which is likely though its success is far from certain - transgender students in Maine can rest a little easier this election cycle. The infractions are striking."
"One out-of-state circulator left his petition forms unattended at a Topsham polling place on Election Day - twice - allowing voters to sign without a witness present, in direct violation of Maine law. Another circulator did the same at a Saco polling place, leaving her table for extended periods while crowds of voters signed unwitnessed petitions. When asked under oath whether she had destroyed the unwitnessed forms as required, she said yes - but a photograph submitted into evidence showed one of those forms was in fact turned in for validation."
"Most troubling of all, an out-of-state signature gatherer paid per signature submitted forms that appear to contain outright forgeries: one voter listed on her petition testified under oath that she"
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