Maine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signatures
Maine's initiative to limit transgender students' participation in sports has been removed from the ballot due to invalid signatures. The secretary of state found over 12,000 signatures on the petition to be invalid, falling short of the required number. This decision represents a setback for similar initiatives across the country.
- ▪The initiative was proposed by the parents' group Protect Girls Sports in Maine.
- ▪Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows stated that the petition did not meet the constitutional threshold for valid signatures.
- ▪The petitioners have 10 days to appeal the decision and may attempt to place the initiative on a future ballot.
2 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 10 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: lean left. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.
- ▪ Maine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signatures — ABC News — Politics
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| Canonical URL | https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/maines-transgender-sports-initiative-halted-invalid-signatures-133319813 |
| Publication time | Tue, 26 May 2026 16:37:20 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-26T20:42:54.116Z |
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ABC NewsLiveVideoShowsGood Morning AmericaShopGMAInterest Successfully AddedWe'll notify you here with news aboutTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOnStream onMaine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signaturesMaine's secretary of state says an initiative intended to limit transgender students’ ability to participate in sports has been removed from the ballot because of invalid signaturesByPATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated PressMay 26, 2026, 1:04 PM1:23FILE - Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows speaks with reporters during the National Associate of Secretaries of State Conference in Washington, Jan. 30, 2026.
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