North Carolina's election board voted to reject a Republican challenge to throw out 60,000 ballots in a state Supreme Court race that the Democrat leads.

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 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.