Federal Judge Confirms Riggs’ Election Win in North Carolina

News Summary

A federal judge has upheld the election victory of incumbent Democratic candidate Allison Riggs in North Carolina, defeating Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin’s legal challenge. The ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers indicates that Griffin’s attempts to overturn the results were unfounded, emphasizing the importance of maintaining election integrity and following established voting rules. This decision halts any further scrutiny of ballots and confirms Riggs’ narrow win by 734 votes, with potential implications for military and overseas voters amidst ongoing legal battles.

Federal Judge Upholds Riggs’ Election Victory in North Carolina

The legal battle surrounding the North Carolina Supreme Court election just took an interesting turn. A federal judge recently put his foot down on a challenge from Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, affirming that incumbent Democratic candidate Allison Riggs won her race by a narrow margin of 734 votes. This ruling settles quite a bit of uncertainty and highlights the importance of sticking to established election rules.

A Ruling with Clear Implications

Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled that Griffin’s attempts to overturn the election results were simply not going to change anything. The judge emphasized that it would be unfair to alter the rules of the game after the voting had wrapped up. In fact, Myers ordered the state to certify the election results exactly as they stood at the end of the canvass period.

The Burden of Challenging Votes

Griffin’s efforts to question over 65,000 ballots were characterized by Judge Myers as imposing an **unconstitutional burden** on citizens’ right to vote. He pointed out that it’s not acceptable for a state to retroactively change the rules and treat different groups of voters unequally.

Griffin’s legal journey has taken him through various state and federal courts over the past six months, drawing significant attention from across the nation. Earlier, the North Carolina Supreme Court had dismissed Griffin’s major challenges but had required voters from military and overseas to prove their eligibility during a 30-day ballot review. Myers’ ruling means that this review, known as a **cure period**, won’t even start, ensuring that these ballots remain intact, regardless of the previous legal fray.

What’s Next for Griffin and the GOP?

Although Griffin and the North Carolina GOP have not yet issued a statement, they are reportedly analyzing the ruling for any potential next steps. Judge Myers has extended the time to appeal for seven days, allowing Griffin a small window to consider his options.

Issues Surrounding Military and Overseas Voters

The judge pointed out that the state had granted exemptions from ID requirements for military and overseas voters prior to the election, and these were not challenged until much later. This raised eyebrows and brought attention to the concern of equal protection rights, especially since Griffin seemed to target counties that are more likely to lean Democratic.

In the mix, several hundred voters had their residency challenged, leading to claims that some were inaccurately classified as non-residents even though they had been long-time residents of North Carolina.

The Battle Over Invalidation of Votes

Initially, Griffin sought to discard over 60,000 votes due to missing identifiers. However, his efforts hit a wall when the North Carolina Supreme Court intervened, allowing only a portion of the votes to be scrutinized. The earlier Supreme Court ruling seemed to pave the way for a somewhat limited scope of contention regarding military voters. Still, Judge Myers’ decision reinforces due process rights, stating that nullifying ballots already cast borders on unconstitutionality.

Potential Further Legal Battles

If Griffin chooses to appeal the ruling, the case could escalate to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and what a twist it would be if it landed on the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s a developing story, and both supporters of Riggs and those backing Griffin are keenly watching what comes next in this ongoing saga.

Overall, the ruling solidifies a significant legal precedent against retroactive alterations in election procedures, highlighting the essence of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. As it stands, Riggs’ victory is confirmed not just by one but two recounts, amid ongoing claims by Democrats that Griffin’s actions are aimed at undermining legitimate election results.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• The New York Times
• The News & Observer
• The Washington Post
• Google Search: North Carolina Supreme Court election
• CBS 17 News
• Wikipedia: North Carolina Supreme Court