(Washington, D.C.) – In response to recent news that the U.S. Postal Service may impose sweeping new federal restrictions on mail-in voting just weeks before Americans begin casting ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), led by Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Chief Executive Officer Phyllis Dickerson, issued the following statement:

“We will not stand quietly by while the rules of our democracy are changed at the eleventh hour in ways that could prevent eligible voters from having their ballots counted. Millions of Americans—including many of our own constituents—could have their voices silenced by these restrictions—not because they are ineligible to vote, but because this federal administration is putting intentional barriers between them and the ballot box.

“We have not forgotten the history behind efforts to make voting more difficult for African Americans. Our ancestors fought, marched, bled and died for access to the ballot. Our mayors know firsthand what is at stake. When access to the ballot is restricted, it is our communities who pay the highest price. Changing the rules now risks creating confusion and disruption at a moment when voters need certainty.

“AAMA calls on federal officials, the courts and election administrators at every level of government to protect Americans’ access to the ballot and ensure that every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to have their vote counted. The right to vote is fundamental, and we will use the collective power and voice of America’s Black mayors to defend it.”