Key ruling could finally end North Carolina court election

Federal Judge’s Decision May Finally Conclude North Carolina Court Election

A federal judge has ruled that the prolonged dispute over a North Carolina court election, which has lingered for six months after the initial voting, should come to an end. The case focused on thousands of votes that were contested on technical grounds.

In the closely watched election, Republican Jefferson Griffin challenged Democrat Allison Riggs for a seat on the state Supreme Court last November. Despite initially leading on election night, Griffin fell short after the final tally, prompting him to question numerous early and absentee ballots. However, a federal judge’s recent ruling favored the Democrat, instructing the state to certify her victory.

The prolonged legal battle attracted significant attention, with concerns raised by civil and voting rights advocates who feared that Griffin’s actions could set a dangerous precedent for undermining legitimate election results not only in North Carolina but potentially across the country. Griffin’s challenges targeted over 65,000 ballots, citing discrepancies in voter registration records, such as missing identification details like driver’s license numbers or Social Security digits, which were not disqualifying according to state and case law.

The federal judge, in his ruling, emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights to equal protection, due process, and fair elections, stating that election rules should not be altered after ballots have been cast by voters who followed the established regulations. Griffin now has seven days to decide whether to appeal the ruling or concede, leaving the final outcome of the election still uncertain.