Concerns about the federal government eliminating mail-in ballots in the upcoming election have people worried, and reasonably so, particularly for Black voters. 

Mail-in ballots have become a cornerstone of voter access in the U.S., with about one-third of all voters choosing the option. In Illinois, 19% of ballots cast in the 2024 general election were by mail. The system is secure, with safeguards like signature verification, individualized barcodes, and “ballot curing” opportunities to fix errors. But if mail-in voting were eliminated, the consequences would fall hardest on Black voters, who already face disproportionate barriers making it to the ballot box.

Why Black Voters Rely on Mail-in Voting

Black communities—especially those in urban areas—often encounter long lines, fewer polling locations, and restrictive voting hours. Mail-in voting helps ease those barriers by giving flexibility for workers with rigid schedules, single parents balancing child care, and voters with limited transportation. As Betty Magness of the League of Women Voters of Chicago noted, voting by mail allows elderly and disabled voters to participate without worrying about “whether they can get transportation on Election Day.” 

If vote-by-mail disappears, Black voters would be among the most affected:

Suppressed turnout: Without mail ballots, more voters of color would be forced to take time off work or stand in hours-long lines, leading to lower participation.

Higher error risk: Black voters’ mail ballots have historically been rejected at higher rates, but systems like ballot curing give them a chance to fix mistakes. Removing mail-in options can lead to eliminating that safeguard. Although some states allow mistakes to be corrected, it’s not always a guarantee.

Reduced trust in elections: As Ryan Tolley of CHANGE Illinois explained, undermining mail-in voting risks discouraging people from participating at all if they don’t believe they’ll have a secure, reliable way to vote.

Eliminating mail-in ballots would not only complicate election administration—it could silence the voices of voters already facing systemic inequities. For Black communities, the rollback threatens to widen participation gaps and undo progress made in expanding access to the ballot box.