North Carolina Appeals Court Orders 65,000 Voters to Verify Eligibility in Contested Supreme Court Race

The ruling, favoring Republican Jefferson Griffin, allows 15 business days for voters to provide proof or face ballot disqualification, with an appeal expected in the state Supreme Court.

A 2-1 decision by the North Carolina Court of Appeals requires over 65,000 voters to verify their eligibility within 15 business days or have their ballots disqualified in the unresolved 2024 state Supreme Court election.
The court's ruling overturns prior decisions by the State Board of Elections and a lower court, marking a significant legal victory for Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, who trails Democrat Allison Riggs by 734 votes after recounts.
The challenged ballots include those from voters with incomplete registration details, overseas voters without photo ID, and a small group of voters who have never resided in North Carolina.
Riggs has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Republican-majority state Supreme Court, where her recusal leaves a 5-1 GOP advantage, raising concerns about potential partisan influence.
Critics argue the ruling retroactively changes election rules, risks disenfranchising lawful voters, and sets a precedent for future election challenges, while supporters claim it protects election integrity.