Colin Powell criticizes North Carolina Republicans for restrictive voter law – predicts that it may damage Republican Party

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. PHOTO/Mary F. Calvert/AP

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has criticised North Carolina’s new restrictive voting law in a speech in Raleigh late last week, warning it damages the Republican Party, “punishes minority voters and makes it more difficult for everyone to vote.

“Here’s what I say to my Republican friends: The country is becoming more diverse,” Powell told Bob Schieffer on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “You say you want to reach out, you say you want to have a new message. You say you want to see if you can bring some of these voters to the Republican side. This is not the way to do it.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down a key portion of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans in states like North Carolina, Florida and Texas have sought voter restrictions that critics, including Powell, say will disproportionately hurt minorities at the polls. North Carolina Govenor Pat McCrory (Republican) signed legislation earlier this month that requires voter identification, rolls back early voting hours and ends a state-supported voter registration drive. Powell condemned that particular law at an event in Raleigh last week.

Powell pointed out that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud, the very premise of the identification statutes.

“You need a photo ID. Well, you didn’t need a photo ID for decades before,” Powell said. “Is it really necessary now? And they claim that there’s widespread abuse and voter fraud, but nothing documents, nothing substantiates that. There isn’t widespread abuse.”

Powell predicted that such measures will blow up in Republicans’ faces.

Read more: Huffington Post