Democrats, voting rights activists and good government groups say Griffin's actions and support for them by the state GOP are an affront to democracy. The votes on the challenged ballots have otherwise been used to determine the outcome of every other top race in North Carolina last fall.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs is accusing her Republican opponent of undermining democracy

In this moment of crisis, the courts have become the final guardrail against the forces of authoritarianism that seek to undermine the will of the voters.