In a tense and politically charged meeting on Wednesday, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) voted 3-2, mostly along party lines, to reject several election protests brought by Republican candidates, including Jefferson Griffin, who contested the results of the state Supreme Court race. The board’s decision preserves the results of a machine recount and partial hand recount, leaving Democrat Allison Riggs ahead by 734 votes out of more than 5.5 million cast statewide.
Key Challenges and Protests
Griffin, along with three legislative candidates—Rep. Frank Sossamon (R-Vance), Stacie McGinn (Senate District 42), and Ashlee Bryan Adams (Senate District 18)—filed protests challenging thousands of ballots. The main grievances included:
1. Incomplete Voter Records: Protests targeted ballots cast by voters whose records did not include a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.
2. Military and Overseas Ballots: Complaints alleged irregularities in absentee ballots submitted without photo identification or ballots cast by overseas voters who had never resided in North Carolina but were eligible to vote due to parental ties.
3. Post-Election Notification: Protesters used postcards with QR codes to notify voters their ballots were being challenged, a move criticized for being confusing and ineffective.
Partisan Divisions on the Board
The decision to reject the protests hinged largely on the methods used to notify voters. Democratic board members Alan Hirsch, Siobhan Millen, and Jeff Carmon argued that the postcards failed to provide clear notice, likening them to “junk mail” or a “car warranty scam.” Republican board members Stacy “Four” Eggers IV and Kevin Lewis countered that the postcards were minimally compliant and sufficient for voter notification.
Hirsch emphasized the importance of voter clarity, stating, “Many people do not know what a QR code is and would not risk scanning it without understanding its purpose. Voting rights are too important to be handled this arbitrarily.”
Broader Implications and Next Steps
Republicans argued the challenges were about upholding election integrity and ensuring compliance with voter eligibility laws. GOP attorney Craig Schauer stated, “We believe the law matters and that election laws should be enforced, and if you are ineligible to vote, your vote should not be counted, regardless of party affiliation.”
Democratic attorneys, however, accused the protesters of attempting to disenfranchise voters retroactively. Will Robertson, representing the North Carolina Democratic Party, argued, “Protesters are here asking you to overturn settled election law and disenfranchise their neighbors because they don’t like the election results.”
The rejected protests can now be appealed to Wake County Superior Court and, if necessary, to the North Carolina Supreme Court. This leaves the door open for further legal battles, particularly as Griffin and other GOP candidates weigh their options.
The Role of Voter ID and HAVA Compliance
The protests also reignited debates over voter ID and compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Republican board members pointed out that unresolved complaints about voter ID requirements could have been addressed earlier, avoiding post-election disputes. Democratic board members maintained that voters had followed all legal requirements in good faith, and there was no evidence of widespread irregularities.
Unanimous Decision on Military Ballots
Despite the partisan divide, the board unanimously agreed that military and overseas ballots without accompanying photo ID or an ID exception form did not violate state or federal election laws.
Chairman’s Closing Remarks
In closing the meeting, Chairman Alan Hirsch highlighted the board’s commitment to preserving voter rights. “The importance of people being able to vote and not be disenfranchised is extraordinarily important. That’s a fundamental constitutional right. It’s what makes our democracy run,” he said.
As the state braces for potential court challenges, the decisions made by the NCSBE highlight the deepening partisan tensions surrounding election laws and the administration of voter rights in North Carolina.
