The latest decision from the North Carolina appeals court to side with Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin and potentially throw out thousands of ballots has sparked an outcry from voters, advocates, and legal experts.
The panel of judges in a 2-1 decision, ruled in favor of Griffin, a North Carolina appeals judge who is attempting to toss out more than 65,500 valid votes in order to win the state Supreme Court seat.
“Changing the rules after the election to throw out the votes of tens of thousands of North Carolinians who followed all of the rules is a travesty. Jefferson Griffin’s neverending legal assault is undermining people’s faith in elections and the courts. He lost and should concede.” Gov. Josh Stein wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
North Carolina voters elected Justice Allison Riggs to keep her seat in 2024, a win that was affirmed by two independent recounts.
Following the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Wake Co. Superior Court dismissed Griffin’s attempt to invalidate 65,500 votes, Griffin appealed to the NC Court of Appeals.
Through its latest decision, Griffin and the Court of Appeals are setting a dangerous precedent that would invalidate voters and allow politicians to overturn the will of the people.
The decision also shows the Court’s support for Griffin’s attack on overseas military voters, which he is attempting to throw out over 5,500 ballots cast by military servicemembers. Despite Griffin voting in the same manner, the Republican judge is attempting to invalidate the rights of service members and North Carolinians.
“The military is the one that fought for these fair and free elections, right? We literally put our blood, sweat and tears on the line so these elections could be held fairly,” Lindsay Knapp, an army veteran from Sanford, told The News & Observer. “For him to turn around and say: ‘You know what? Your vote doesn’t count.’ It’s a spit in our face.”
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs said in a statement that she will appeal the decision.
“We will be promptly appealing this deeply misinformed decision that threatens to disenfranchise more than 65,000 lawful voters and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing disappointed politicians to thwart the will of the people,” Justice Riggs said in a statement.
“North Carolinians elected me to keep my seat and I swore an oath to the constitution and the rule of law – so I will continue to stand up for the rights of voters in this state and stand in the way of those who would take power from the people.”
According to NC Newsline, the case will likely go in front of the seven-member state Supreme Court, where Republicans hold a 5-2 majority. Riggs has recused herself, and three of the Republican justices have already indicated support for Griffin’s arguments, NC Newsline reports.
