Federal Court Weighs Ballot Challenges in NC Supreme Court Election

The North Carolina Supreme Court election remains unresolved over a challenge to approximately 66,000 ballots in the contest between Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently heard arguments regarding whether Griffin's lawsuit should be adjudicated in federal or state court, with Riggs leading by 734 votes after multiple recounts. Griffin claims the ballots were improperly cast due to missing voter registration information and seeks to have them invalidated, while Riggs asserts they were lawfully cast. The state Supreme Court has blocked certification of the election result, and Riggs has recused herself from the case. The outcome of this legal dispute is critical as it could determine the composition of the court, which currently has a Republican majority. No timeline for a ruling has been established, prolonging uncertainty surrounding the election results.