NC Supreme Court Delays Justice Riggs’ Certification Amid Election Dispute

The North Carolina Supreme Court has postponed the formal acknowledgement of Democrat Justice Allison Riggs’ re-election victory, a decision made to accommodate her opponent’s unfounded allegations of election misconduct. This delay follows Riggs’ narrow victory over Republican Jefferson Griffin in the November 4 election, where she won by fewer than 800 votes.

Griffin has mounted multiple legal challenges, arguing that a significant number of ballots should be invalidated due to incomplete voter registrations. Specifically, Griffin’s legal team pointed to nearly 60,000 registrations missing a driver’s license or Social Security number, as mandated by the 2002 Help America Vote Act. However, it is not unusual for registrations from before 2002 to lack this information, and some forms printed post-2002 also did not require it.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections dismissed Griffin’s claims, stating they were without merit. The board, having already conducted two recounts which affirmed Riggs’ victory, was on the verge of certifying her win when the court intervened.

The decision to delay was backed by the court’s five conservative justices, with one liberal justice dissenting. Riggs has recused herself from the proceedings. The court has not provided a specific timeline but indicated a decision will take “at least two weeks.” A ruling in favor of Griffin could potentially overturn the election results or lead to a new election.

Among the contested ballots are those cast by Riggs’ own parents.

Election disputes are not unfamiliar in North Carolina. The state’s Republican-led legislature has faced lawsuits over heavily gerrymandered districts, which critics argue marginalize Democratic voters. The 2023 congressional maps divided Democratic cities such as Greensboro and Raleigh, pairing them with rural Republican areas, potentially altering the outcome of the 2024 election where Democrats might have otherwise gained control of Congress.

Outgoing Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who is rumored to be considering a U.S. Senate bid in 2026, criticized the supreme court’s decision via social media. He stated, “Allison Riggs won and the recount confirmed it. Republicans want to toss thousands of legal votes in the trash because they don’t like the outcome.”