A federal judge has instructed the North Carolina Election Commission to provide proof regarding the results of the state’s Supreme Court election, offering incumbent Democratic Judge Allison Riggs a potential advantage in a still-unfolding race.
US District Judge Richard E. Myers ruled on Monday that the state commission must validate the results of the November election, which has been at the center of a legal dispute led by Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin.
In a decision last month, the state’s Supreme Court determined that most of the contested votes should be counted. The court, in a 4-2 ruling, concluded that votes with missing details, such as a Social Security number, remain valid.
The North Carolina Supreme Court previously stated, “Under this court’s long-standing precedent, mistakes made by negligent election officials in registering eligible voters do not strip citizens of their right to cast their votes.”
Additionally, the court ruled that certain votes, especially those from foreign and military voters, required identity verification and would be excluded.
Myers’ ruling emphasized that votes challenged by Griffin should indeed be counted, noting, “Retrospective invalidation of absentee ballots by military and civilian voters overseas violates these voters’ substantive due process rights.”
Griffin has a week to appeal before the ruling takes effect.
Myers commented on Griffin’s actions, stating, “This integrated action is about attempts to change the rules of the game,” in his 68-page ruling.
In response, Riggs expressed her approval of the ruling through a statement posted on social media, declaring, “Today we won.”
She added, “I am proud to continue to support the Constitution and the rule of law as a judge on the Supreme Court of North Carolina.”
