It’s important we recognize that Vote by Mail is not just a problem now because of Trump. We face a coordinated and concerted campaign with multiple access points to disproportionately marginalize communities of color and deny votes. Many Black voters feel they will face several challenges this November at the polls. Whether its voting by mail or in person, the risk of their lives and their voice are at stake.

These are legitimate fears fueled by the history of voter suppression in America, efforts to destroy the USPS, and delegitimize voting by mail through 18 active lawsuits in states that are working to expand voting access.

But we’re ready. We are educating, organizing, and ready to use our power.

Black Voters Matter is calling for:

  • The immediate defense of the USPS

  • Additional election oversight from Congress and states on the Vote by Mail process

  • A robust monitoring system that holds election officials accountable

  • A mail in ballot for every registered voter.

To do our part, we are working closely with local partners who know their own community to address concerns on the ground and mobilize people to vote. As Michelle Obama shared last night in her DNC speech, “We’ve got to vote early, in person if we can. We’ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they’re received. And then, make sure our friends and families do the same…It is up to us to add our voices and our votes.”

Here is how you can support these efforts:

  • Request your ballot ASAP and vote early

  • Call your congressional representative and ask them to protect the USPS and to provide election protection oversight locally

  • Use our toolkit to share this WE GOT THE POWER campaign messaging on #VotebyMail with your network and help us spread the word and raise awareness.

  • Share this click to tweet about the WE GOT THE POWER campaign and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @BlackVotersMtr. You can also join the conversation online using #WeGotThePower.

What It Will Take to Win in November? Black Voters Matter Speaks Out at DNC

This week, Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, joined a number of representatives from progressive organizations around the country and Senator Bernie Sanders, in a panel talk during the DNC on strategies for fighting voter suppression, boosting voter enthusiasm, and building long-term political power – including how you can get involved in the fight.

Here’s a quote from Cliff during the discussion: “Fannie Lou Hammer explained to us the voter suppression that Black voters in Mississippi were facing, and in doing so she asked the question “is this America?” and yet here we are 56 years later and we’re facing some of the same forms of voter suppression with a few other things thrown up in the mix. We’re looking at the closing of polling places, we’re looking at millions of voters being purged from lists, we’re looking at photo ID laws, and we’re still looking at the oldest form of voter suppression, felony disenfranchisement. Now as of late, we’re also looking at vote by mail attacks.”

You can watch the full video here.

BVM Joins 85 Organizations in Signing Letter for PM General to Resign or Be Fired

This week, BVM joined several organizations, representing millions of Americans nationwide, to sign a letter calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to immediately resign or for the Board of Governors to dismiss him from his position – and replace him with an experienced official who is committed to keeping mail delivery reliable. In the midst of a pandemic, the American people have never been more dependent on reliable mail service for essential needs, even survival, than they are right now. Yet Mr. DeJoy not only has taken several steps that are disrupting mail service to American families and businesses, but he has also failed

to eliminate disqualifying ethical conflicts.

Other organizations that signed include: Democracy Matters, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, MomsRising, National Education Association, Hispanic Federation, among others. To read the full letter, click here.