The Secretary of State’s office announced today that the Fairness for Girls Constitutional Amendment petition has qualified to appear on the general election ballot.

To appear on the ballot, a constitutional amendment petition requires valid signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in Nebraska and at least 5% of registered voters in 38 counties.

The Fairness for Girls petition aims to amend the Nebraska Constitution to establish constitutional protections for sex-separate athletics. Schools must expressly designate each athletic team or sport based on biological sex — males, men or boys; females, women or girls; or coed or mixed.

The petitioners collected at least 138,613 valid signatures. The number of valid signatures exceeded 110%, Secretary of State Bob Evnen said. Organizers collected valid signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in 59 counties, as required.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office will produce an informational brochure on the ballot measure and hold public hearings in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts to be announced later.

County election offices and the Secretary of State’s office are still processing another petition — the Protect Nebraskans’ Initiative and Referendum Powers Constitutional Amendment petition.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office will certify the 2026 general election ballot by Sept. 11. All petitions will be processed and announced by then, Evnen said.

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