North Carolina Judges Weigh GOP Election Law Shift Before May

In North Carolina, a legal battle is ongoing regarding the validity of thousands of ballots from the recent state Supreme Court election, which was decided by a narrow margin of 734 votes. Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin has challenged the eligibility of over 60,000 ballots, arguing that many voters failed to meet registration requirements or provide necessary identification. While the state Supreme Court recently ruled that ballots with incomplete registrations should be counted, it mandated that military and overseas voters must prove their eligibility within 30 days or risk their votes being discarded. This ruling has faced criticism from voting rights advocates who argue it disenfranchises voters and alters election rules post-factum. Democratic Justice Allison Riggs, who won the election, has vowed to fight the ruling in federal court, claiming it undermines the integrity of the election process and could lead to significant voter disenfranchisement. The situation remains fluid as the State Board of Elections awaits further direction from federal courts regarding the certification of the election.