Maine Says Transgender Sports Petition Still Clears Signature Bar by a Slim Margin

Overview

• In a court filing, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said challengers have not shown enough flaws to drop the petition below the required 67,682 valid signatures.
• Supporters submitted nearly 80,000 names, more than 71,000 were certified as valid, and up to 3,014 may be thrown out, which would still leave the total roughly 300 above the threshold.
• Two unresolved challenges from plaintiff Jane Gilbert could prompt factfinding on alleged unattended petitions, improper witnessing, and signatures she calls suspicious or possibly forged.
• The proposal would bar transgender girls from girls’ school sports and restrict bathroom and locker-room access based on the sex on a student’s original birth certificate.
• Whether the question appears on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot now depends on the court’s handling of the remaining disputes, even as draft ballot wording moves through public comment and finalization in May.