The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 16, 2025
A North Carolina Supreme Court candidate who lost by 734 votes and refused to concede got help from the state appeals and supreme courts in his partisan battle to invalidate as many as 65,000 voters. His case is now back in federal court.
April 4th, the North Carolina Appeals Court, on which Judge Jefferson Griffin currently sits, supported Griffin’s position that 60,000 voters were never properly registered, and that as many as 5,000 military and overseas voters didn’t supply ID when they registered to receive their special mail-in UOCAVA ballots.
April 11th, the North Carolina Supreme Court allowed the 60,000 voters to stand, but gave the approximately 5,000 military and overseas voters only 30 days to provide missing information or be disqualified, and a federal judge ordered that the race not be certified. April 12th, the League of Women voters filed a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of those military and overseas voters. Griffin’s opponent, State Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs appealed in Federal District Court April 14th.
In a blistering dissent in the state supreme court decision, Justice Anita Earls wrote, “Some would call it stealing the election, others might call it a bloodless coup, but by whatever name, no amount of smoke and mirrors makes it legitimate.”
We’ve linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters
NC Newsline – Appeals court rules in favor of GOP Supreme Court candidate Griffin’s election challenge
WRAL – NC Supreme Court votes to throw out some, but not all, ballots contested in 2024 race for seat on court
NC Supreme Court – Order in Griffin v. NC Board of Elections
U.S. District Court (via Democracy Docket) – League of Women Voters NC class action lawsuit on behalf of 5,000 UOCAVA mail-in ballot military and overseas voters.
NC Newsline – NC Supreme Court update: Riggs rallies supporters, overseas voters file new lawsuit
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters NC, Protect Democracy, VoteVets
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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