The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 24, 2025
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
We have updates on important state supreme court cases involving the outcome of a November 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court election, and whether Pennsylvania can count mail ballots with missing dates.
First to North Carolina, where after two recounts, a race for supreme court justice is separated by 734 votes, with 5.5 million ballots cast. Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was declared the winner over Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin, but Griffin refused to concede and appealed to invalidate as many as 60,000 voters.
Griffin’s challenge includes voters with felony convictions, despite North Carolina’s returning citizen rights restoration. He and the North Carolina GOP also challenge voters with incomplete registration information, some of whom are even elected officials and have voted for years.
Wednesday, the Carolina Journal reported that the North Carolina Supreme Court refused to hear the case in a 5 to 1 decision, sending it back to Wake County Superior Court to consider Judge Griffin’s complaints
Back in October, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to rule whether on-time mail-in ballots missing a signing date could be counted. Of the two challenges filed, the ACLU’s argument that rejecting the ballots is a violation of the state constitution’s Free and Equal Elections Clause will be considered, and the other dismissed. No trial date has been set.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – (2024) After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters
Carolina Journal – NC Supreme Court sends Griffin’s election complaint back to trial court
Courthouse News – North Carolina Supreme Court sends election challenge for associate justice seat downwards
American Democracy Minute – (2024) PA Supreme Court Refuses to Rehear Mail-In Ballot Missing Date Appeal and Others As Too Close to the Election
Pennsylvania Supreme Court – BRIAN T. BAXTER AND SUSAN T. KINNIRY v. PHILADELPHIA BOARD OF ELECTIONS, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE,, AND REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Votebeat PA – Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear latest case over undated mail ballots
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU PA, PA Conference of the NAACP, Common Cause PA, Black Political Empowerment Project
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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