Signature dispute could derail Maine's anti-trans ballot initiative

"Election officials spent hours Tuesday reconsidering whether a proposed ballot initiative targeting transgender students should qualify for the November ballot, reopening a politically explosive fight that has turned the state into a national battleground over transgender rights. The hearing focused on whether supporters of the referendum improperly gathered petition signatures, Spectrum News . The dispute could determine whether voters will decide this fall whether transgender students can participate in school and access bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity."

"At issue is a citizen initiative backed by Protect Girls Sports in Maine that would require public schools to designate sports teams and sex-separated facilities based on sex assigned at birth. The measure would also create legal liability for schools accused of allowing transgender students to participate in girls' sports or use girls' facilities."

"According to Spectrum News, challengers argued Tuesday that thousands of petition signatures should be invalidated because some petitions were allegedly left unattended in businesses and public locations rather than directly supervised by circulators, as required under Maine law. The secretary of state's office now has until May 26 to issue a new determination on whether enough valid signatures remain to qualify the measure for the ballot."

"The hearing followed a court order from Cumberland County Superior Court Justice Thomas McKeon directing election officials to revisit the campaign's signatures after opponents argued the state had not fully investigated allegations of improper circulation practices. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows had previously certified that the campaign submitted enough valid signatures, finding more than 71,000 acceptable, roughly 3,300 abov"

Election officials spent hours reconsidering whether a proposed ballot initiative targeting transgender students qualifies for the November ballot. The dispute centers on whether supporters improperly gathered petition signatures. The initiative, backed by Protect Girls Sports in Maine, would require public schools to designate sports teams and sex-separated facilities based on sex assigned at birth. It would also create legal liability for schools accused of allowing transgender students to participate in girls’ sports or use girls’ facilities. Challengers argued that thousands of signatures should be invalidated because petitions were allegedly left unattended in businesses and public locations rather than directly supervised by circulators. The secretary of state must issue a new determination by May 26 after a court order directed officials to revisit signature allegations and investigations.

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