Story perspectives

Maine Bars Trans Student Initiative After 12,500 Signature Invalidations

5/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows reversed her certification, ruling the transgender-students initiative will not appear on the November ballot.
A court-ordered review invalidated about 12,500 of nearly 80,000 signatures for forgery, missing affidavits, duplicates, and out-of-state circulators, giving the group ten days to appeal.
The $800,000 plan from donor Richard Uihlein would have required bathrooms and locker rooms by birth sex and barred transgender athletes from competing.

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Story summary

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows reversed her certification, ruling the transgender-students initiative will not appear on the November ballot.
A court-ordered review invalidated about 12,500 of nearly 80,000 signatures for forgery, missing affidavits, duplicates, and out-of-state circulators, giving the group ten days to appeal.
The $800,000 plan from donor Richard Uihlein would have required bathrooms and locker rooms by birth sex and barred transgender athletes from competing.