In a dramatic twist in North Carolina’s judicial landscape, the state Supreme Court has blocked the certification of election results for a pivotal seat, leaving Democrat Allison Riggs in limbo despite her narrow lead of 734 votes over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.
The court, dominated by Republican justices, issued a 5-1 decision preventing the state elections board from certifying Riggs’ victory, just days before the planned certification. This action follows Griffin’s legal challenge seeking to disqualify over 60,000 ballots. Griffin, a Court of Appeals judge, argues these ballots lack critical identifying information required by law, such as driver’s license or social security numbers.
Justice Riggs, who had recused herself from the decision, has been striving to secure a full eight-year term after being appointed to the court in 2023 by the Democratic governor. The remaining Democrat on the court, Justice Anita Earls, dissented, emphasizing the importance of respecting established democratic processes.
The contested ballots largely represent registered voters whose documentation is incomplete in state records. The state’s elections board, led by a Democratic majority, dismissed Griffin’s protests, stating no evidence suggested improper voter registration or casting.
This judicial clash has far-reaching implications, with Democrats aiming to retain Riggs’ seat to potentially regain court control in future elections. Republicans, meanwhile, are leveraging this dispute to shape the court’s ideological balance amid contentious battles over redistricting and abortion rights.
For now, the court has set a briefing schedule, with arguments due by January 24. The race, which saw over 5.5 million votes cast, remains one of the most closely watched and litigated in recent state history.
