A federal appeals court has agreed to hear more arguments involving a close election in November for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat. The 4th U.S.

An incumbent Democrat narrowly won re-election to the state’s highest court. But the Republican-controlled court is considering an unusual protest from her challenger that could flip the result.

The State Board of Elections is now temporarily blocked from certifying Allison Riggs as the winner in the Supreme Court election while the court considers her opponent’s challenge of 60,000 ballots.

Justice Allison Riggs (D) eked out a 734-vote victory over Jefferson Griffin. but the Republican challenged about 60,000 ballots cast by voters who have not provided election officials with their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Three counts show an incumbent Democrat won election to the State Supreme Court. But an unusual protest by the G.O.P. challenger could be headed to that same Republican-controlled court.

In his dissent, Justice Richard Dietz wrote that permitting such a case “invites incredible mischief” and will “lead to doubts about the finality of vote counts following an election.”

The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked state officials from certifying the re-election of Democrat Allison Riggs to the court, allowing Republican Jefferson Griffin to challenge the validity of nearly 60,

The Democratic National Committee is taking legal action in the battle over a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.