A dramatic reversal in North Carolina's Supreme Court race has Republican Jefferson Griffin challenging Democrat Allison Riggs's unexpected comeback after initial Election Night results.
According to The News & Observer, the State Board of Elections is overseeing a second recount as Griffin contests more than 60,000 ballots, following Riggs's slim 734-vote lead after the first machine recount.
The tension between the candidates intensified after Griffin's initial 10,000-vote lead evaporated when outstanding absentee and provisional ballots were tallied. The race's outcome remains uncertain as election officials conduct hand-to-eye recounts across the state's 100 counties, with Brunswick and Currituck counties expected to complete their counts by Tuesday.
The hand-to-eye recount process requires election officials to physically examine ballot samples, departing from the machine-counting method used in the first recount. This meticulous approach comes after both candidates lost 110 votes in the initial machine recount, though the margin between them stayed constant.
Election workers across the state have been diligently processing the recounts, with 98 counties completing their tasks by late Friday. The remaining two counties faced delays due to the unavailability of some election board members.
The State Board of Elections maintains a careful stance, indicating they would only order a full statewide hand-to-eye recount if discrepancies between the machine and hand recounts suggest a potential reversal of current results.
The North Carolina Democratic Party has responded forcefully to Griffin's challenges by filing a lawsuit to invalidate his protest of the 60,000-plus ballots. This legal counteroffensive demonstrates the high stakes of the contest.
NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton stated their position firmly:
We are prepared to take on Republicans. They can't stop the results of an election just because they don't like the fact that we won.
The State Board of Elections has scheduled a Wednesday meeting at 12:30 p.m. to address Griffin's protests, adding another layer to this complex electoral dispute.
State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell addressed the situation with measured optimism while acknowledging the strain on election workers:
We applaud the county boards of elections and all of the workers who are assisting them in completing these recounts, hearing the protests from the Griffin campaign, and otherwise conducting post-election tasks. All of this additional work comes on the heels of an incredibly grueling few months before the presidential election, which was compounded in a quarter of the state due to Hurricane Helene.
The extended counting process has placed additional pressure on election officials who were already managing a demanding election season. Their commitment to accuracy and legal compliance remains paramount despite the challenges.
The North Carolina Supreme Court race between Jefferson Griffin and Allison Riggs has evolved into a complex legal and procedural battle, with Griffin challenging over 60,000 ballots after losing his initial lead. The situation intensified after the first recount maintained Riggs's 734-vote advantage, prompting Griffin to request a second hand-to-eye recount.
The State Board of Elections faces crucial decisions as it prepares to review Griffin's protests at Wednesday's meeting while simultaneously awaiting the completion of recounts in Brunswick and Currituck counties. The outcome of this contested race could significantly impact the composition of North Carolina's highest court, with both parties fully engaged in the legal and procedural battle to secure victory.
