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RALEIGH, N.C. — At a rally attended by over 100 supporters on Monday, Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs pledged to “fight as long as it takes” as she awaits the final verdict in her contest against Republican Jefferson Griffin for a position on North Carolina’s Supreme Court.
The rally provided a platform for participants to express their dissatisfaction following a state Supreme Court ruling made on Friday. This ruling mandated that some voters submit additional information for their ballots to be accepted, a decision that Riggs argues disenfranchises many voters, especially military personnel and citizens residing abroad.
“I assure you, I will not let a single voter fall through the cracks,” Riggs declared, generating enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Currently, the race between Riggs and Griffin stands out as the only unresolved contest from the 2024 elections. Riggs maintains a slender lead of 734 votes from a total of more than 5.5 million cast, while Griffin has legally contested the inclusion of over 65,000 ballots in the count. The recent Supreme Court ruling may leave several thousand of these challenged ballots still in play.
The majority of the state Supreme Court upheld parts of a lower appeals court’s decision on Friday, which ruled that certain ballots challenged by Griffin, who is a current Court of Appeals judge, should not be included in the count. The justices, all affiliated with the Republican Party, concluded that while a portion of the voters should be allowed additional time to submit the required information, most of the contested ballots can still be included in the tally.
The disallowed ballots pertain to two main categories: those cast by individuals overseas who have never lived in the U.S. but whose parents were recognized as North Carolina residents, and ballots submitted by military members and overseas voters who failed to provide the necessary photo identification or exemption forms.
According to the justices, voters who did not submit their ID or exemption form could still see their ballots counted if they provide the missing documentation within a 30-day timeframe that had not yet commenced as of Monday. However, ballots from individuals ruled non-compliant with residency laws will remain excluded from the final count.
The extent to which these ballots might influence the election outcome, particularly in favor of Griffin, remains uncertain. Some of Griffin’s post-election challenges pertain to ballots from predominantly Democratic counties, meaning the disqualification of those votes could potentially bolster Griffin’s position.
Riggs, who recused herself from participating in the Supreme Court’s deliberations, has indicated her intention to pursue a challenge in federal court against state rulings that have not favored her, citing federal election and voter rights legislation. She took this step just hours after the court’s decision on Friday.
In a coordinated effort, several groups filed federal actions early Monday aimed at halting the vote-curing process or invalidating certain ballots. These include the North Carolina Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, and some voters who were informed about the ID requirements.
The protracted nature of the election litigation has frustrated many voters, including Tracy Casorso, who expressed surprise that it has taken more than five months to reach a resolution. Holding a sign that read “Stop the Steal,” she represented a shared sentiment among rally participants who voiced concerns over the judicial process.
“These are troubling times, and this situation is unacceptable and undermines our democratic principles,” Casorso remarked.
In her speech, Riggs explained that her campaign aims to connect with all voters impacted by the recent ruling and cautioned attendees that the outcome of her electoral battle could set a precedent for similar challenges to elections nationally. “They will use this as a guide repeatedly,” she warned.
In response to Riggs’ rally and statements, Griffin’s campaign spokesperson Paul Shumaker highlighted that according to the state’s judicial conduct code, Griffin is unable to publicly discuss the case while it is still under judicial review. He expressed concern regarding Riggs’ decision to hold rallies centered on ongoing legal matters.
“The Court’s ruling on Friday aligns with our request, and clearly, it deserves careful scrutiny, as indicated by the Courts,” Shumaker stated.
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