(The Center Square) — Backers of a Maine referendum to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports are criticizing the wording of the proposed ballot question by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, accusing the Democrat of trying to “mislead” voters.
Bellows released the wording of the ballot question last week, beginning a 30-day public comment period for the referendum ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. She noted that she is required by state law to draft language for citizen-initiated initiative petitions that “concisely and intelligibly” explain the proposal to the state’s voters.
“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?” the ballot question reads.
But backers of the plan say the secretary’s wording of the ballot question is “inadequate” and contains at least four “critical errors” that need to be revised before the question goes before our voters.
Among the concerns: the wording suggests that the proposal would “change civil rights” which backers say is misleading. They also pointed out that all private spaces would be covered by the proposed restrictions, not just bathrooms. Backers also criticized Bellows for using the term “gender” instead of “sex” and for claiming that civil rights enforcement is about suing public schools.
“We urge their reconsideration of the drafted question, to ensure it stays faithful to the proposed legislation and even to the wonderful title assigned by the secretary of state herself: An Act to Designate School Sports Participation & Facilities by Sex” Leyland Streiff, who heads the ballot committee Protect Girls Sports in Maine, said in a statement.
The group collected more than 71,000 signatures from registered voters over the past several months, clearing the way for the referendum to appear on the November ballot.
The proposal, if approved by voters, would require public schools and the Maine Principals’ Association to designate interscholastic or competitive teams for males or females or as co-ed. Only athletes who were born female would be allowed to compete on girls’ teams. Public schools would also be required to maintain separate bathrooms, locker rooms and showers for boys and girls.
Transgender and civil rights groups have formed a coalition to oppose the ballot question, which they say is being funded by wealthy, out-of-state donors seeking to impose a conservative agenda on the state. They say it would increase bullying and harassment of transgender students and lead to costly legal challenges for schools.
Maine has been a focus of a national debate over transgender athletes in female sports after a confrontation between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Republican President Donald Trump, who has vowed to withhold federal funding from any states that fail to comply with his “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order.
Bellows’ office declined to comment on the criticism over her wording of the ballot question, but said in a statement that the secretary will review the public feedback on the referendum.
“We are currently in the 30-day public comment period for the ballot question, where any Maine voter can provide suggestions on how to word the question,” the statement said. “I look forward to reading everyone’s suggestions and will take all of them into consideration when I finalize the question for the ballot.”
A legislative committee is expected to hold a public hearing on the proposal Tuesday, and lawmakers could either vote to approve the legislation or put the question on the ballot for voters to decide.
