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A ruling from a Wake County Superior Court judge has dealt a blow to Jefferson Griffin’s efforts to invalidate over 65,000 ballots in the ongoing contest for a position on the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Issued on February 7, this decision further complicates Griffin’s campaign, as he seeks to overturn a 734-vote deficit against his opponent, Justice Allison Riggs, who currently serves on the state Supreme Court and represents the Democratic party.
This high-stakes race has emerged as the only undecided contest following the November 2024 general elections.
The current tally shows Justice Allison Riggs leading by 734 votes out of a total exceeding 5.5 million cast during the election. Following a remand of Griffin’s appeal by a federal court back to state jurisdiction, the North Carolina Supreme Court ordered on January 7, 2025, that Griffin’s request to pause the election certification was granted, allowing further examination of issues surrounding 60,000 contested votes.
Riggs has twice emerged as the victor following mandatory recounts, yet Griffin has not conceded his loss after several months. Instead, he has resorted to legal challenges, claiming a series of ballot irregularities, including incomplete voter registrations, which he asserts violate state law and played a significant role in his defeat.
After his complaints were dismissed by the North Carolina Board of Elections for lack of substantial evidence, Griffin moved forward with a lawsuit against the board.
In the February 7 ruling, Judge William Pittman upheld the board’s findings, stating that its decision adhered to constitutional standards, remained within its statutory authority, followed appropriate procedures, and was free from legal errors.
Commenting on the ruling, Riggs remarked that the decision to reject challenges to over 65,000 ballots is a significant win for voters in North Carolina and affirms the integrity of the electoral process.
“The voters ultimately determine the outcome of elections, and I remain steadfast in this endeavor, ensuring that the constitutional rights of North Carolinians are upheld,” she added.
Griffin’s legal actions also target nearly 2,500 ballots from Buncombe County and over 300 from Henderson County. Additionally, he seeks to invalidate more than 5,000 military and absentee ballots, despite using such ballots for his own voting in previous elections. Griffin contends that these votes should be disregarded unless accompanied by photo identification, even though the state board formally ruled prior to the election that such ID was unnecessary for these types of ballots.
Following the unfavorable ruling, Griffin has filed an appeal notice with the North Carolina Court of Appeals as of February 12.
In tandem, both the state election board and Riggs are seeking a swift resolution through a “bypass petition” to escalate the matter directly to the state Supreme Court, which currently has a Republican majority of 5-2. Riggs has recused herself from involvement in the potential proceedings, and a tied 3-3 decision from the court would automatically affirm Judge Pittman’s previous ruling.
“We knew this would be a protracted struggle, and I am dedicated to advocating for the voters whom Jefferson Griffin is trying to disenfranchise,” stated Riggs on February 12. “As a constitutional officer, I am committed to defending both our state and federal constitutions, as well as the rule of law. I will vigilantly uphold my responsibilities, including holding accountable any official who undermines the will of the voters.”
On February 17, there will be a rally at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville from noon to 2 p.m., organized in protest against Griffin’s attempts to challenge the ballots. Similar demonstrations are also slated for several other cities across North Carolina.
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More: Election results: Latest totals, maps in North Carolina, Asheville races
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