North Carolina Supreme Court Blocks Riggs Certification

The North Carolina Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the certification of Democratic Justice Allison Riggs as the winner of her election against Republican Jefferson Griffin, who is challenging the validity of over 60,000 ballots. The court's 5-1 ruling, supported by its Republican majority, follows Griffin's claims that many voters were ineligible due to incomplete registration forms. Riggs, who leads Griffin by 734 votes, recused herself from the case, while Democratic Justice Anita Earls dissented, arguing that the court should not interfere with democratic processes. A federal judge previously sent the case back to state court after dismissing Griffin's protests, emphasizing the importance of state sovereignty in election matters. The State Board of Elections had planned to certify Riggs as the winner by January 10, pending this court decision. The situation highlights ongoing tensions over voter eligibility and election integrity in North Carolina, with implications for future elections.