An Attack on Democracy: North Carolina’s Ballot Battle and the Threat to Fair Elections

In a recent conversation, political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen and attorney Marc Elias discussed the contentious battle unfolding in North Carolina, where a judge is seeking to invalidate 60,000 ballots in a close race for the state’s Supreme Court. This effort, led by Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, poses a significant threat to the principles of fair and transparent elections.

The Recount Controversy

Jefferson Griffin, the GOP candidate, requested a hand recount after initially losing to his Democratic opponent, Allison Riggs, in a machine recount. Despite the machine recount confirming Riggs’ victory, Griffin is challenging the validity of over 60,000 ballots. These include votes from individuals with prior felony convictions, those with incomplete voter registrations, and military and overseas voters.

Allison Riggs condemned this move, stating on X, “Recounts are a normal part of the process in a close race. What isn’t normal is the way my opponent is attempting to engineer a new outcome by challenging more than 60,000 votes across our state.” Riggs emphasized that Griffin’s challenges rely on legal theories already dismissed by state and federal courts.

The Broader Context

This ballot challenge occurs amidst a backdrop of anti-democratic actions by North Carolina Republicans. The state Senate recently passed Senate Bill 382, which aims to strip power from the incoming Democratic governor, Josh Stein, and transfer it to Republican-controlled entities. Key provisions of the bill include making the state board of elections operate under the state auditor instead of the governor and limiting the governor’s judicial appointment powers.

Governor Cooper vetoed the bill, calling it a “sham” that “violates the state constitution.” However, the Senate overrode the veto, and the bill now awaits consideration in the House.

The Human Impact

The effort to invalidate 60,000 ballots disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including felons, those with registration issues, and military and overseas voters. Such actions undermine the fundamental right to vote and erode public trust in the electoral process.

Marc Elias highlighted the cynical nature of these challenges, noting that they come after the election has been held and counted, rather than addressing issues before the vote. This post-election tactic aims to disenfranchise voters and secure a victory through litigation rather than through the will of the people.

A Call to Action

The situation in North Carolina underscores the need for vigilant protection of democratic norms. As Marc Elias pointed out, the lack of mainstream media coverage on this issue contributes to public cynicism and disengagement. It is crucial for independent and progressive media outlets to shine a light on these threats to democracy.

The efforts to invalidate ballots in North Carolina represent a clear attack on democratic principles. It is imperative that we support fair election practices, hold elected officials accountable, and ensure that every vote counts. The integrity of our democracy depends on it.