Washington Voters to Decide on Sports Initiative 638

The upcoming November 3 general election will determine whether to restrict school sports participation based on sex at birth.

Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Secondary Education

Washington Voters to Decide on Sports Initiative 638

Live Poll

Should transgender students be prohibited from competing in K-12 girls' sports divisions in your community?

Washington voters will decide the future of interscholastic athletics in the state during the November 3 general election. Initiative 638 seeks to prohibit transgender students from competing in girls' sports from kindergarten through grade 12.

Why it matters

Supporters of the measure argue that the proposed restrictions are necessary to ensure safety and maintain fairness within athletic competitions. The initiative has reached the ballot after the Washington Legislature declined to hear the proposal.

Approximately 10 students participating in school sports across the state have disclosed they are transgender. Washington is one of four states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska, set to vote on similar eligibility measures.

The players

Let's Go Washington

This is the political organization responsible for submitting the signatures required to place Initiative 638 on the ballot.

Washington Legislature

This is the state governing body that chose not to hear the initiative before it was cleared for a public vote.

The details

Under Initiative 638, students would be required to submit a physical exam from a medical professional stating their sex assigned at birth. Verification would be based on reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or testosterone levels.

Signatures were submitted to the secretary of state in early January 2026.
Voters will decide on Initiative 638 on November 3, 2026.

Culture Shift

This measure reflects a broader societal debate regarding how educational institutions define athletic eligibility in the context of gender identity. Washington's decision positions the state alongside a growing group of jurisdictions navigating these legislative standards.

The passage of Initiative 638 would mandate new medical verification requirements for all students participating in school sports. Families will need to coordinate with healthcare providers to supply the necessary documentation regarding sex assigned at birth if the measure is enacted.

The takeaway

Voters will decide on November 3 whether to shift state athletic policy to a model based on sex assigned at birth. Residents should review the specific documentation requirements outlined in the ballot initiative to understand how it affects current school sport participation.