Vote on Trans Athlete Ban Is Canceled Over Suspect Signatures
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed a transgender athletes ballot question from the November ballot due to evidence that thousands of petition signatures were invalid.
- Investigations found multiple petition circulators violated state rules, including submitting signatures from voters who denied signing and falsely attesting to witnessing signatures.
- Bellows emphasized her decision was based solely on factual evidence and state law, with no external influences.
- Proponents of the measure have 10 days to appeal the decision to the state Superior Court, which can uphold, reject, or order further review of the petition.