Mike Gallagher: Voter ID reduces minority political power

Thank you for Ned Barnett’s Jan. 31 column “Voter ID narrows the right to vote.” Here are additional things to note.

First, while the GOP gerrymander managed to create a veto-proof majority in a state where the voting overall was pretty even, it does not give a boost in the vote on statewide offices. That’s what the current voting restrictions strive to do.

Second, combining gerrymandering with voter restrictions reduces black political power in North Carolina back close to the level of the early 1960s. Somehow the courts seem OK with that.

To provide an additional buffer, the narrow focus of some religious leaders and flocks on a few issues leaves them prey to contrived, but timely, crusades. A few years ago it was same-sex marriage.

For some reason, it is hard to get folks that worked up about the denial of food, housing and health care to the poor.

This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Mike Gallagher: Voter ID reduces minority political power."