The number of ballots in question exceeds the slim margin by which the Democratic incumbent won, potentially leading to the November election being overturned.

North Carolina’s Supreme Court has ruled that tens of thousands of cast ballots challenged by the trailing candidate in November’s election for a seat on the court must remain in the election count.

Democratic Justice Allison Riggs won her November election by 734 votes, but the court put into play enough votes to possibly hand the seat to her Republican challenger.