North Carolina Supreme Court Halts Justice Election Vote Curing

A North Carolina court ruling that requires more than 60,000 votes to be eliminated or cured in a narrow Supreme Court justice election was temporarily stayed by the state’s high court on Monday.

A motion for the temporary pause was granted by the North Carolina Supreme Court three days after a lower court ruled that thousands of votes in the state Supreme Court race may be invalid, according to a one-page letter. The blocked ruling was likely to sway the outcome of the election, which was decided by fewer than 1,000 votes in favor of current Justice Allison Riggs (D). Riggs recused herself from the ruling Monday.

The appeals court ruling appeared to favor victory for Judge Jefferson Griffin (R), considering a skew in favor for Democrats among the ballots he challenged.

A split state court of appeals held April 4 that “never residents"—adults who were moved out-of-North Carolina and abroad by their parents before turning 18—aren’t entitled to cast ballots. Other challenged ballots would have been given 15 business days to cure after state officials contacted them. These voter types included those overseas who didn’t supply a photo ID and local voters whose registrations didn’t include a driver’s license or social security number.

Justices Paul Newby, Anita Earls, Philip Berger Jr., Tamara Barringer, Richard Dietz, and Trey Allen joined the decision.

Dowling Firm PLLC and Chalmers Adams Backer & Kaufman LLC represent Griffin. The North Carolina Department of Justice represents the election board. Womble Bond Dickinson represents Riggs.

The case is Griffin v. N.C. State Bd. of Elections, N.C., No. 320P24-3, 4/7/25.