North Carolina’s elections board has dismissed protests filed by several Republican candidates trailing narrowly in their races last month who have questioned well over 60,000 ballots cast this fall.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections dismissed challenges against thousands of votes in an ongoing battle over a state Supreme Court seat.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted Wednesday to deny a GOP challenge that attempted to throw out 60,000 ballots in a state Supreme Court race. The Democratic incumbent in the race leads by just over 700 votes.

The final count of votes in the race on Tuesday upheld Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs ’s victory, reports Kyle Ingram. That means Griffin’s protests, which the North Carolina Democratic Party has challenged in federal court, may be his only avail. If they’re accepted, it could change the race’s outcome.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said she’s “absolutely” concerned that the state Supreme Court could overturn the results of a race for a seat on the court that has now gone to two recounts.

Another recount won’t be ordered by North Carolina election officials in a close state Supreme Court race after a partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent.

As North Carolina Republicans attempt to maintain their party’s uber majority on the state’s Supreme Court, the Democratic incumbent

The idea that someone could have been registered to vote, came to vote and then has their vote discarded is anathema to the democratic system and simply cannot be tolerated,” Board Chair Alan Hirsch said.