Washington ballot measure · November 3, 2026

Washington Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, explained

Girls' school sports limited by biological sex. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.

The official wording

Initiative Measure No. IL26-638 concerns participation in athletics at K-12 schools. This measure would prohibit students it defines as "biologically male" from competing in certain school athletic activities intended for female students only. It would require verification of biological sex by students' healthcare providers. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.

What it actually means

Bars students the measure defines as biologically male from competing on girls-only teams or in girls-only events in interschool K-12 sports, which would generally exclude transgender girls. Any student joining a girls' team or event would need a form from their own health care provider verifying biological sex.

If you vote YES

Public schools, and private schools in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association or similar groups, would have to prohibit biologically male students from competing with or against girls in girls-only interschool teams and events.
Every student wanting to play in girls-only interschool sports would need a form signed by their personal health care provider verifying biological sex based on reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup or normal endogenous testosterone levels.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would spend about $21,000 to update guidance; districts would have indeterminate costs to revise policies.

If you vote NO

Schools could continue to offer separate teams by sex, and state rules would continue to prohibit discrimination in school sports based on sex and gender identity.
Current eligibility rules set by school districts and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, within state rules against discrimination based on gender identity, would remain; opponents say the state's current sports policy has been in place since 2007.
No sex verification form would be required to join girls' teams.

The numbers that matter

State cost: About $21,000 one-time
Local cost: Indeterminate

Why supporters say YES

Female athletes deserve fair opportunities protected under Title IX; Washington now allows males to compete against girls, and competition results show at least 269 placements by male athletes in girls' categories, including 74 first-place finishes.
— Official voters' pamphlet argument for and rebuttal, written by Alesha Perkins, coach Dori Whitford, Olympic medalist Carol Brown, pediatrician Erica Li, student athlete Ahnaleigh Wilson and Jess Grant
Verification would happen during routine primary care using birth records, medical history or a standard non-invasive exam, and the measure aligns Washington with federal law and bodies such as the International Olympic Committee.
— Official voters' pamphlet argument for (campaign led by Let's Go Washington)

Why opponents say NO

The measure would require girls as young as 8 to get medical sex certification, potentially including invasive exams or costly genetic or hormone tests, and bars parents from simply using birth certificates, while boys are exempt.
— Official voters' pamphlet argument against, written by the Washington State Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, the League of Women Voters of Washington, physician Grace Shih, retired school nurse Katie Johnson and wrestling coach Paul Charbonneau
A statewide ban aimed at about 5 to 10 transgender girls on school teams would add barriers that discourage all girls from playing, leaving no room for case-by-case decisions.
— Official voters' pamphlet argument against (No Hate in WA State)

What’s genuinely uncertain

What kind of medical evaluation providers would use is disputed: supporters say routine records suffice, opponents say the text requires examination or testing. The Attorney General says students would have to undergo some type of medical evaluation.
The measure applies to interschool competition; how it applies to intramural or non-competitive activities is not addressed in the official summaries.

The bottom line

A uniform rule reserving girls' school sports for students verified as biologically female, against excluding transgender girls and requiring medical verification for every girl who plays.

One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.

Sources:sos.wa.gov sos.wa.gov sos.wa.gov sos.wa.gov ballotpedia.org

Checking it against the official text

The Washington Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.

Confirm this with the official source

Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Washington Secretary of State.

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