New Video Evidence and Lawsuit Threaten to Derail Anti-Trans Referendum in Maine

Newly surfaced video footage from petition sites in Topsham and Saco, Maine, has exposed serious violations in the signature-gathering process for a statewide referendum targeting transgender rights. The footage shows petition sheets left unattended, a clear breach of Maine’s law requiring petition circulators to personally witness every signature they collect. This violation alone could disqualify all signatures on those sheets, potentially invalidating thousands of them.

The referendum in question seeks to roll back protections for transgender students under the Maine Human Rights Act. It would mandate schools to segregate sports teams, bathrooms, and locker rooms based strictly on sex assigned at birth — a blatant attack on transgender youth’s rights and dignity.

This evidence has prompted a Maine Superior Court judge to order Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’s office to reassess its prior decision that certified the referendum for the November ballot. Bellows had initially concluded that supporters had submitted enough valid signatures, but the court now demands a review within 30 days due to credible allegations of widespread signature irregularities.

A lawsuit challenging the petition highlights multiple issues: some individuals reportedly signed the petition multiple times, while others failed to provide necessary residency information. Opponents estimate that up to 7,000 signatures could be invalidated if these claims hold, a number large enough to potentially knock the measure off the ballot entirely.

Backing this anti-trans campaign is billionaire Richard Uihlein, a notorious far-right donor who has pumped millions into efforts to roll back civil rights, including $6.5 million to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment in New York. Uihlein’s funding also supports initiatives spreading baseless voter fraud conspiracy theories — underscoring that this referendum is part of a broader extremist agenda, not a grassroots movement.

“This isn’t a homegrown effort,” said Destie Hohman Sprague of the Maine Women’s Lobby. “We really want Mainers to understand that this is not about sports, it’s about a national extremist attempt to take over Maine politics and drive the conversation in November.”

The integrity of Maine’s democratic process is on the line. If these fraudulent signatures are confirmed, it would not only protect transgender students from discriminatory policies but also send a clear message that extremist, well-funded campaigns cannot hijack local politics through deceit and manipulation.

We will continue to monitor this story closely as the Secretary of State’s office completes its review. The stakes couldn’t be higher for Maine’s transgender community and for anyone who believes in fair, transparent elections.