Source: Editorial Board
Ahead of arguments in the federal appeals court Monday, Democrats and impacted voters held a press conference to condemn Judge Jefferson Griffin’s efforts to erase 65,500 ballots more than 80 days after the election.
“What we are witnessing in North Carolina is nothing less than a blatant attempt to overturn a free and fair election,” stated U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, during the press conference.
“In November, the people of our state showed up at the ballot box for consequential races up and down the ticket, because they wanted their voices to be heard. Now, Judge Griffin and his political cronies want to silence them.”
Judge Griffin, a Republican, has led efforts to challenge the ballots of over 65,500 North Carolina voters in order to win the state Supreme Court seat. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has conducted two recounts – confirming North Carolinians voted for Associate Justice Allison Riggs to have the high court seat.
“I do not know why Republicans refuse to admit that the will of the people spoke in November and that they declared Justice Allison Riggs the winner of this state Supreme Court seat,” stated Anderson Clayton, the N.C. Democratic Party Chair, during the presser.
Despite activists, legal experts, and state Supreme Court justices underscoring how harmful the attempt to disenfranchise lawful voters is to our democracy, Griffin and state Republicans continue to drag this unprecedented move to overturn the results of an election.
“We have seen this playbook before. For years, Republicans in our state have rolled back voting rights because they fear the will of the voters,” stated U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, during the presser. “When they can’t get enough votes to win legitimately, they try to cease the levers of power through other means, and rig the system.”
Griffin’s recent target includes 5,500 ballots cast by voters who register and vote by absentee ballot under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absent Voting Act. Griffin is asking the court to disqualify the votes of around 5,500 North Carolinians, mostly from Democratic-leaning counties, who voted in the same manner as he had just a few years ago, according to an investigation by ProPublica.
“As a military veteran, I find it unconscionable for Judge Griffin to fight to discount the votes of active duty military currently serving our country all over the world,” stated Katie Eddings, a retired teacher and United States Air Force veteran, during the press conference. “Mr. Griffin, as a fellow North Carolinian, a registered voter in Lee County, and a military veteran, I’m calling on you to uphold the rule of law and concede.”
Hours after the presser, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals evaluated whether Griffin’s challenge should be returned for a lower federal court’s review or remain in state court. Independent reporting from Bryan Anderson states that the court did not assess the merits of the case itself.
The case could end up in Wake County Superior Court or returned to federal court in the coming days.
