North Carolina Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Order That Could Nullify 65,000 Votes in Riggs-Griffin Election Dispute

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Raleigh, NC | April 8, 2025:
In a dramatic turn in one of the nation’s last unresolved 2024 elections, the North Carolina Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a controversial lower court ruling that could have led to the invalidation of more than 65,000 ballots — votes that helped Justice Allison Riggs narrowly defeat her Republican challenger, Judge Jefferson Griffin.

The Supreme Court’s stay, issued Monday, prevents the appellate court’s directive from taking effect while a formal appeal is considered, preserving the status of those ballots — for now — and maintaining Justice Riggs’ razor-thin victory by just 734 votes.

Ballot Challenge Stems From Alleged Registration Omissions

At the heart of the dispute is a claim by Judge Griffin that tens of thousands of voters failed to provide required identification data when registering to vote. However, the North Carolina State Board of Elections maintains that the issue arose from administrative processing errors, not misconduct by the voters themselves.

Despite this, an appellate court on Friday ruled in Griffin’s favor, ordering that all 65,000 affected voters must verify or correct their registration information within 15 days or face disqualification of their ballots. The ruling was scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, potentially flipping the election outcome.

Supreme Court Intervenes; Race Still Uncertified

The North Carolina Supreme Court’s intervention — though last-minute — was decisive. Justice Riggs and the State Election Board had appealed immediately after Friday’s ruling, requesting a stay and full review.

Surprisingly, Griffin’s legal team did not oppose the stay, yet the Supreme Court waited until Monday afternoon to act, prompting confusion among local election officials and voters attempting to comply with a rapidly shifting legal landscape.

Justice Riggs’ spokesperson, Dory MacMillan, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, stating:

“We will continue to pursue this appeal and are committed to ensuring that power stays in the hands of voters — not politicians.”

A representative for Judge Griffin declined to comment, while North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons issued a brief statement affirming his party’s position:

“The people of our state deserve to see this important election finalized with every legal vote counted.”

Election Offices Flooded With Voter Inquiries

Even before the Supreme Court’s pause, the ruling had sparked widespread concern among voters across North Carolina. County boards of elections were flooded with calls and emails from individuals trying to check their registration status or correct perceived issues.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections indicated that if the appellate ruling were ultimately upheld, they would issue detailed guidance to help local officials and affected voters understand the next steps.

Patrick Gannon, the board’s spokesperson, stated on Monday:

“If the appellate ruling ultimately does take effect, we will provide detailed instructions to the county boards of elections and affected voters on how to comply with the court’s decision.”

Political and Legal Stakes Remain High

The case holds serious implications not only for the balance of the North Carolina Supreme Court, but also for national conversations about voting rights, election integrity, and the potential weaponization of technical voter data errors.

Because the majority of affected ballots come from Democratic-leaning counties, disqualifying them could hand the seat to Judge Griffin — raising concerns over judicial impartiality, administrative accountability, and the disenfranchisement of lawfully cast votes.

Legal experts suggest the Supreme Court’s final ruling will set a precedent that could influence how similar disputes are handled across the country.

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