NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina State Board of Elections today rejected all of Judge Jefferson Griffin’s election protests, which could have removed 60,000 votes from the race.
Griffin, who lost to Democrat Allison Riggs by more than 700 votes for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat, claimed some ballots across the state were cast by ineligible voters. The board voted along party lines to reject all of Griffin’s protests.
“These are eligible voters,” Riggs told the News & Observer after the board’s decision. “My job is now — and will continue to be, because the voters of North Carolina saw fit to keep me in my seat — is to defend the constitutional rights of North Carolinians and to do so with no regard for political ideology, with no regard for political goals or dreams or aspirations.”
After an initially tight race, Riggs came out on top, but Griffin initiated several recounts, all of which confirmed Riggs as the winner. However, the race could not be certified until the board dealt with Griffin’s challenge.
Griffin has 10 days to appeal the board’s decision, which would be heard in Wake County Superior Court. From there, it could make it all the way to the Supreme Court.
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