'Incredible mischief': NC judge warns election challenge could undercut electoral system

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Richard Dietz went against his Republican colleagues this week in a case that could have vast implications for future elections in that state and beyond.

Dietz's dissent — in which he cautioned the justices were paving the way for "incredible mischief" that could undercut the electoral system — was aimed at the ruling that allowed Jefferson Griffin, a Republican vying for a spot on the court, to challenge the election victory of Democratic Justice Allison Riggs.

Washington Post Senior Political Reporter Aaron Blake wrote that the ruling could set a precedent for endless election challenges in the future, à la Donald Trump's failed challenge to the 2020 presidential election.

Blake wrote about "the symbolism and potential precedent" the court has now set.

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"Republicans nationwide have spent years calling election results into question, and that’s arguably paid dividends politically — at least for President-elect Donald Trump, who used the baseless perception that he didn’t actually lose in 2020 to retain control of the Republican Party and ultimately win the 2024 election. But to this point their efforts have been stone-cold losers in courts of law. In North Carolina, they could seemingly have a legal foothold — and under pretty remarkable circumstances."

Griffin argued that the state "illegally counted about 60,000 votes from people whose registrations didn’t contain a required driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. He contends that those voters should have been purged from the rolls, and thus their votes shouldn’t count."

Blake laid out the reasons why the ruling allowing more time to review the "invalid" votes was so extraordinary, writing, "This is an effort to invalidate votes, even though there is no indication that they’re fraudulent or that voters would have known they could be problematic."

Blake wrote that although it wasn't clear if Griffin's challenge will succeed, "the door has at least been opened to something rather remarkable that could present a rare win for tormented GOP attempts to overturn elections."

Read The Washington Post article here.