The Voter Education Project (VEP) began in 1962 as part of the Southern Regional Council. Initially VEP granted funds to civil rights organizations to support voter education, voter registration drives, and voting-related research. In 1964, Vernon Jordan, the second executive director of the VEP, expanded the programs goals to include citizenship training, voter education, and leadership training in the southern United States, while continuing to provide funds to independent voter and civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the League of Women Voters. The VEP’s work with the League of Women Voters is highlighted in the materials below.   In 1971, VEP under the leadership of John Lewis, became an independent organization and functioned as a research center and became known as an authoritative source for statistics on southern elections and voter registration in general. Lewis also forged the VEP into an activist organization, launching Voter Mobilization Tours with Georgia state legislator and civil rights advocate Julian Bond. 

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
Sep 4, 2020

Voter Education Project Organizational Records

The Voter Education Project (VEP) began in 1962 as part of the Southern Regional Council. Initially VEP granted funds to civil rights organizations to support voter education, voter registration drives, and voting-related research. In 1964, Vernon Jordan, the second executive director of the VEP, expanded the programs goals to include citizenship training, voter education, and leadership training in the southern United States, while continuing to provide funds to independent voter and civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the League of Women Voters. The VEP’s work with the League of Women Voters is highlighted in the materials below. In 1971, VEP under the leadership of John Lewis, became an independent organization and functioned as a research center and became known as an authoritative source for statistics on southern elections and voter registration in general. Lewis also forged the VEP into an activist organization, launching Voter Mobilization Tours with Georgia state legislator and civil rights advocate Julian Bond.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.

For:
  • Subjects = Political science
  • Subjects = African Americans--Politics and government
Title Date Created Author Description Subject Collection
"Reviewing the Runoff System", July 15, 1983 1983-07-15 The article discusses the primary runoff system in Southern US states and its potential impact on Black voters, as well as its effectiveness in promoting consensus-building and preventing rule by cliques, but also its drawbacks such as increased costs and a proliferation of candidates. 1 page. African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Voter Increase for 1980s", May 14, 1982 1982-05-14 Press release on how the Voter Education Project found that one-third of counties in eleven southern states had a Black population of 27% or higher in 1980, with opportunities for voter registration and turnout activities. Mississippi had the most Black majority counties, and South Carolina had the highest percentage of counties with 27% or higher Black populations. 2 pages. African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Votes for Andrew Young", November 4, 1981 1981-11-04 Press release on a study of the 1981 Atlanta Municipal elections by the Voter Education Project shows that Blacks alone provided enough votes to elect Andrew Young on October 27. Blacks won all four municipal elections in majority Black constituencies, and whites cast an even higher percentage of their votes for white candidates. 2 pages. African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"White Candidates Winning Elections in Majority Black Districts", October 23, 1981 1981-10-23 Press release on how the VEP found that in the October 6, 1981 City of Atlanta municipal elections, four white candidates won in majority Black districts and all three elections in majority white districts, while Black mayoral candidates received 57% of the total vote and the highest percentage (58%) of registered voters cast ballots in the mayoral election. 2 pages. African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Voter Participation in 1980 Presidential Election", December 12, 1980 1980-12-12 Press release on how 95% of Black registered voters in the South who turned out in the 1980 presidential election voted for Jimmy Carter, with a range of 92-97% in different states. Ronald Reagan won only 82,000 Black votes, ranging from 2-6% of the total Black vote. The study found that socioeconomic differences among Southern Blacks did not significantly affect their voting behavior. 2 pages. African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Washington Report, Vol. 10, No. 11, March 16, 1970 1970--03-16 A report of news and events around the U.S. and the world. 4 pages. Voting, Special events, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"A Need for Consolidation", November 19, 1969 1969-11-19 Two newspaper clippings describing a report and criticisms surrounding the consolidation of the Atlanta and Fulton County governments. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Politics and government, City planning Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Eyes on the Presidency Press Release by Nick Thimmesch, July 8, 1969 1969-07-08 Nick Thimmesch Press release from political analyst Nick Thimmesch regarding President Nixon's careful and deliberate approach to his first six months in office. Some critics seized on his minor mistakes as evidence that his administration was coming apart. Thimmesch also discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he regards as instrumental in registering black voters in the South, despite an uncertain future. The administration proposed a substitute plan that would rely more on local courts and broaden the scope to cover all states. However, seasoned voter-registration workers argued that this plan would not be as effective as the current law, and that it would disproportionately impact the South. 3 pages. Political participation, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'Race Secondary' New Officials Told", December 17, 1967 1967-12-17 A note and two newspaper clippings regarding speakers Julian Bond, Horace Ward, and Bayard Rustin, at a two-day institute in Mississippi sponsored by the Southern Regional Council. 3 pages. African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African American civic leaders, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Wallace Planning No Reapportionment", June 16, 1964 1964-06-16 Newspaper clipping regarding Governor George Wallace's unwillingness to reapportion the state legislature of Alabama. 1 page. Political science, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Wallace Slate Won 66 Counties", May 9, 1964 1964-05-09 A newspaper clipping describing the results from a state election. 1 page. Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records