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 rejected on Wednesday a Republican bid to throw out more than 60,000 votes in a closely contested election for a State Supreme Court seat that an incumbent Democrat won by 734 votes.

The state Board of Elections on Wednesday rejected Republican Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin’s efforts to toss out more than 60,000 ballots cast in last month’s election. Most of the votes rejecting Griffin’s election protests were 3-2 along party lines,

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.