Justice Riggs speaks at NCCU a day after key NC Supreme Court ruling in contested race
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was the keynote speaker at an event at North Carolina Central University Saturday, a day after a key decision made by her Supreme Court colleagues on her race to keep her spot on the bench.
'With every breath in my body, I will fight for them to make sure that their votes count,' she said.
Friday, the State Supreme Court's Republican majority ruled that the vast majority of the more than 60,000 votes contested by her GOP challenger, Judge Jefferson Griffin, would remain part of the count.
Griffin, who trails Riggs by 734 votes, protested against ballots cast by voters who allegedly had incomplete registration.
RELATED: NC Supreme Court rules most challenged ballots must stay in election count
While part of the decision is seen as a win for Riggs, the court ruled that thousands of other votes should not have been tallied.
'It is not somehow more constitutionally acceptable to only seek to disenfranchise 7,000 instead of 67,000,' Riggs said.
That includes military members and their families, as well as other North Carolinians living abroad, who voted absentee.
'We know that the voters who are at risk of having their fundamental freedoms disrespected are the people who put on a uniform and stand up and serve our country,' said Riggs.
The decision allows these voters to send proof of ID to ensure their votes are counted. These voters will have 30 days after being notified by their county board of elections to respond.
Meanwhile, voters who have never lived in the United States, but have ties to North Carolina through their parents, will not have their votes counted.
The North Carolina Republican Party praised the court's decision, release a statement that said in part, 'The decision [Friday] brings this election one step closer to a conclusion ensuring every legal vote will be counted.'
The State Board of Elections says it is still reviewing the effect of the court's decision.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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