30-day public comment period on question today through May 7
AUGUSTA, MAINE – Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is now accepting public comment on the wording of a citizen initiative question that will appear on the November 3, 2026, ballot, unless enacted by the Legislature as written.
The ballot question, as 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?”
State law requires Secretary Bellows to present each proposed legislation "concisely and intelligibly" as a ballot question. The Secretary will be accepting public comments regarding the question’s form and content for a 30-day period beginning today, April 7, 2026, until 5 p.m. on May 7. All comments will be reviewed and considered before the ballot question is finalized by May 28.
Comments will be accepted via the online submission form, email or mail :
- Use the comment submission form available on the Secretary of State’s website.
- Email PublicComment.SOS@Maine.gov using subject line "Public Comment – Referendum Question"
- Mail comments to the Secretary of State, Attn: Public Comment, 148 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0148
The full text of the proposed legislation is available on the Citizen Initiatives page in the Secretary of State website, along with proponent information.
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