‘Fairness for Girls’ Ballot Initiative Turns in 'Record-Setting' Number of Signatures

by Matt Johnson and Lewis Thune

(Picture credit Lewis Thune)

LINCOLN — After nearly four months collecting signatures, “Fairness for Girls” officially submitted its petition to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen on Tuesday morning. The proposed amendment to the Nebraska Constitution would ban biological males from competing in girls’ sports.

“113 days ago, we launched Fairness for Girls,” said former State Senator Julie Slama. “Today, we’re proud to announce Fairness for Girls is turning in 211,000 signatures.”

The announcement took place in the Nebraska State Capitol rotunda. Flanking Slama was a host of supporters and sponsors, including multiple state senators, Senator Pete Ricketts, Nebraska State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg, and representatives from the Nebraska Family Alliance.

“With 211,000 signatures, we have broken Nebraska’s record for most signatures on a ballot initiative,” Slama said.

Nebraska law requires that for a petitioned constitutional amendment to appear on the general election ballot, it must receive signatures from 10% of all registered Nebraska voters, including 5% signatures from voters in 38 counties. With their record number, Fairness for Girls becomes the first initiative of the 2026 cycle to submit its signatures to Secretary Evnen.

“When girls are forced to compete against boys, they lose opportunities for scholarships, medals, and advancement,” said Elizabeth Nunnally of the Nebraska Family Alliance. “Fairness for Girls will establish safeguards for girls’ sports in the Nebraska Constitution once and for all.”

Also present was University of Nebraska Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice. In addition to praising the ballot initiative, he applauded Tuesday morning’s West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Idaho v. Hecox Supreme Court decisions, which upheld the Constitutionality of state laws mandating sex-separate sports.

“Just hours ago, the United States Supreme Court upheld a state’s right to protect girls’ sports and ensure fairness and opportunity,” he said, “As a father of two daughters, I am proud to sponsor Fairness for Girls to ensure Nebraska stands for common sense.”

Ricketts echoed Schafer’s comments.

“It’s just common sense that you don’t want men competing against girls, that we want a level playing field for our daughters and granddaughters, ask Payton McNabb,” he said.

McNabb, a former volleyball athlete in the state of North Carolina, was knocked unconscious and left partially paralyzed after a male, transgender-identifying athlete spiked a ball into her head.

“Title IX was developed over 50 years ago to protect the opportunity these young women have by participating in sports,” Ricketts said. “And now what we’re seeing is politicians around the country trying to turn it on its head and make it so it’s working against the very women it was supposed to protect.”

Ricketts recalled the recent successes of women’s sports at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including in volleyball, softball, and basketball.

“We have so much to protect here in Nebraska,” he said. “If we pass this ballot initiative, we can be the first state in the country to put these protections in our state Constitution.”

The last to speak were the petition’s top two volunteers within the state legislature, Senators Jana Hughes of Seward and Tanya Storer of Whitman. Ricketts commended Hughes for her time spent acquiring signatures even in the midst of her re-election campaign.

“We haven’t seen in the state some of the egregious situations that we’ve seen on the coast. Part of that is because we have common sense,” said Hughes. “I was happy to support this initiative.”

Storer reiterated the need for the initiative, even in light of the state’s existing law on the topic, 2023’s Stand with Women Act.

“This initiative permanently protects fairness in women’s athletics, and guarantees the common-sense protections established by LB89,” she said. “I will always stand up to protect our young girls.”

Pending signature verification, the Fairness for Girls amendment will appear on the November ballot, where its fate will be decided by majority vote. Fairness for Girls and its supporters remain confident in its chances.

“We’re grateful for everyone who made this initiative historic, and we are looking forward to earning the support of Nebraskans across the state this November,” Slama said.

GOP Sees Broad Appeal for Effort

The petition has been embraced publicly by several prominent Republicans this year, including Ricketts and Governor Jim Pillen, who both shared social media posts earlier this month after signing the petition.

In 2025, the “Stand With Women Act” (LB 89) was signed into law by Pillen, which enforces biological sex-based restrictions for K-12 and postsecondary school sports. The “Fairness for Girls” initiative would embed these protections in the state constitution, making them far more difficult for future legislatures to alter or rescind.

While many Republicans have publicly supported the effort, Democrats have been largely quiet.

A Republican political consultant, speaking on background, said the measure enjoys broad support—62–67% overall and nearly 60% in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District.

“Even Democrats have daughters who have spent their entire lives working really hard, and they don’t want to see them lose scholarships or opportunities—so that crosses that barrier as well,” the consultant said.

The push is also fueled by significant funding. The Fairness for Girls committee has received $3.1 million from the 501(c)(4) “Restore the Good Life Inc.” An opposition committee, “Fairness for All,” was registered earlier this month by Second House Collaborative and OutNebraska. The opposition has no financial contributions listed so far.

— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.

— Lewis Thune is a writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.