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.
5 Objects displayed
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Decade = 1960-1969
  • Geographic Location = Washington (D.C.)
  • Subjects = Political participation
Newspaper article the ways in which the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial runoff produced a political metamorphosis with potentially far-reaching implications. The old Byrd Organization declined, and new forces came to the fore. Henry E. Howell and William C. Battle represented a new thrust in state politics and a gradual closing of the gap between the Virginia Democratic Party and the National Democratic Party. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Battle-Howell Duel Changes State Politics", August 14, 1969
Date Created
1969-08-14
Description
Newspaper article the ways in which the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial runoff produced a political metamorphosis with potentially far-reaching implications. The old Byrd Organization declined, and new forces came to the fore. Henry E. Howell and William C. Battle represented a new thrust in state politics and a gradual closing of the gap between the Virginia Democratic Party and the National Democratic Party. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political campaigns, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the potential political campaigns of two Black candidates in Atlanta and Detroit after the final term of respected mayor Ivan Allen Jr. Due to Atlanta's large Black population, there was a growing movement for Black political representation. The article suggests that if a Black candidate were to run for mayor, they would have a good chance of winning. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negroes Eye Two Major Mayoralities", January 2, 1969
Date Created
1969-01-02
Description
Newspaper article discussing the potential political campaigns of two Black candidates in Atlanta and Detroit after the final term of respected mayor Ivan Allen Jr. Due to Atlanta's large Black population, there was a growing movement for Black political representation. The article suggests that if a Black candidate were to run for mayor, they would have a good chance of winning. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Civil rights digest of issues featuring an article written by Vernon E. Jordan Jr. regarding the significant progress made by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in increasing Black voter registration in the South. However, the article emphasizes that there was still much work that remained to be done. Only 62% of voting-age Blacks were registered to vote in the South, compared to 78% of whites. The article primarily discusses the need for full enforcement of the Voting Rights Act through stringent means and the preference that Black people had for going before federal examiners rather than local registrars. 60 pages
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Civil Rights Digest, "Black Vote in Danger", Spring 1969
Date Created
1969
Description
Civil rights digest of issues featuring an article written by Vernon E. Jordan Jr. regarding the significant progress made by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in increasing Black voter registration in the South. However, the article emphasizes that there was still much work that remained to be done. Only 62% of voting-age Blacks were registered to vote in the South, compared to 78% of whites. The article primarily discusses the need for full enforcement of the Voting Rights Act through stringent means and the preference that Black people had for going before federal examiners rather than local registrars. 60 pages
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Pamphlet from the Democratic National Committee emphasizing The Democratic Party's long history of supporting civil rights and economic advancement for African Americans, centering around the work completed in Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential administration. The party enacted legislation and programs that helped to open up opportunities for African Americans in all areas of life, from education and employment to housing and healthcare. The Democratic Party remained committed to ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race or ethnicity. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"This President...Is Doing More" Pamphlet, September 14, 1967
Date Created
1967-09-14
Description
Pamphlet from the Democratic National Committee emphasizing The Democratic Party's long history of supporting civil rights and economic advancement for African Americans, centering around the work completed in Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential administration. The party enacted legislation and programs that helped to open up opportunities for African Americans in all areas of life, from education and employment to housing and healthcare. The Democratic Party remained committed to ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race or ethnicity. 2 pages.
Subject
Political campaigns, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report on the voter turnout statistics of the 1964 national election. The 1964 presidential election saw a high voter turnout, with 69% of the civilian non-institutional population of voting age reporting that they voted. Voter participation rates varied by age, sex, race, and region of residence. Men were more likely to vote than women, and white people were more likely to vote than non-white people. The South had the lowest voter turnout, while the North Central Region had the highest. Residents of metropolitan areas were more likely to vote than residents of non-metropolitan areas. The report includes a variety of tables breaking down voter participation among specific demographic groups. 50 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Participation in the National Election November 1964", October 25, 1965
Date Created
1965-10-25
Description
Report on the voter turnout statistics of the 1964 national election. The 1964 presidential election saw a high voter turnout, with 69% of the civilian non-institutional population of voting age reporting that they voted. Voter participation rates varied by age, sex, race, and region of residence. Men were more likely to vote than women, and white people were more likely to vote than non-white people. The South had the lowest voter turnout, while the North Central Region had the highest. Residents of metropolitan areas were more likely to vote than residents of non-metropolitan areas. The report includes a variety of tables breaking down voter participation among specific demographic groups. 50 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records