North Carolina Court Orders Verification for 65,000 Votes in Supreme Court Election

A North Carolina appeals court has ruled that approximately 65,000 ballots in the closely contested Supreme Court race must be verified for identity or risk being thrown out, significantly affecting the outcome of the election between Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin and Democratic Justice Allison Riggs. The court found that the State Board of Elections made errors in allowing these ballots to be counted, which could shift the current narrow lead of 734 votes held by Riggs. The ruling stems from Griffin's challenge to the validity of these ballots, with the court granting voters a three-week period to provide necessary identification. This decision has ignited a contentious legal battle, with Riggs and her supporters arguing that changing rules post-election undermines electoral integrity. The case is poised for appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court, which will ultimately determine the legitimacy of the ballots in question. This ruling highlights ongoing tensions around voter ID laws and their implications for election outcomes in North Carolina.