Maine law requires the Secretary of State to write a clear, honest ballot question whenever citizens use the initiative process to put a proposed law to a vote.
For the Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine Act, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ first draft misses the mark. The actual referendum language uses the clear word “sex,” meaning biological sex listed on a child’s original birth certificate. But her draft swaps in the word “gender” and makes it sound like the initiative “changes civil rights.”
The ballot question, as currently drafted, reads:
“Do you want to change civil rights and education laws to require public schools to restrict access to bathrooms and sports based on the gender on the child’s original birth certificate and allow students to sue the schools?”
That language does not accurately reflect what the referendum does: protect girls’ sports teams, bathrooms, and locker rooms so girls can compete on a fair, safe, and level playing field, and be ensured safe private spaces. Mainers deserve a ballot question that tells the truth about what they’re voting on.
The public comment period regarding the ballot question wording is open until May 7 at 5 PM. Speak up and submit yours below!
Sample Comments You Can Use
Click one to use as a starting point and then add your town or a quick personal note (like “I’m a mom from Auburn” or “I coached girls’ sports for 10 years”), and submit your comment below.
The draft ballot question is confusing and unclear. The Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine Act uses the word “sex,” which means a child’s biological sex on their original birth certificate. The draft question changes this to “gender,” which means something different and changes the proposed law’s meaning. It also wrongly suggests the law would change current civil rights protections. The initiative language does not do that. Please fix the ballot question so it matches the proposed law’s exact words and meaning. Maine voters should not be misled.
The draft ballot question does not tell voters the full story. It only talks about bathrooms and leaves out locker rooms, showers, and girls’ sports teams. This initiative is meant to protect fair competition and private spaces for female athletes based on biological sex. By using the word “gender” instead of “sex” and leaving out key parts, the question paints a false picture. Please rewrite it clearly. Voters deserve full and honest information before they vote.
A ballot question should be clear, fair, and true to the proposed law. This draft is not. It replaces “biological sex” with “gender,” wrongly says the law changes civil rights, and leaves out mention of the protections for locker rooms, showers, and girls’ sports. This will confuse voters and weaken trust in the process. Please correct the wording so it mirrors the initiative language. Maine voters should have clear facts so they can make an informed choice.