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.
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  • Subjects = African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta
  • Subjects = Voting
  • Subjects = Political participation
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan and objections for the program in 1986. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of the VEP, With Plan for 1986
Date Created
1985/1988
Description
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan and objections for the program in 1986. 11 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan, goals and budget for the program. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of the VEP with Budget Report, circa 1985
Date Created
1984/1987
Description
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan, goals and budget for the program. 11 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP research department essay by Brian Sherman, Ph.D. and K. Farouk Brimah on the increase of participation in voting by the Black population in the South, listing states and percentages. 16 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Increase and Impact: Black Participation in Southern Electoral Politics During the First Half of 1984", July
Date Created
1984-07-25
Author
Sherman, Brian, Brimah, K. Farouk
Description
VEP research department essay by Brian Sherman, Ph.D. and K. Farouk Brimah on the increase of participation in voting by the Black population in the South, listing states and percentages. 16 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the VEP celebrating their 20th anniversary. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"VEP celebrates 20th Year Here October 21", October 19, 1982
Date Created
1982-10-19
Description
Article on the VEP celebrating their 20th anniversary. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the VEP taking a break to celebrate the voting rights act and their successes in increasing the Black vote in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Drive Changes the South", October 17, 1982
Date Created
1982-10-17
Description
Article on the VEP taking a break to celebrate the voting rights act and their successes in increasing the Black vote in the South. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
An analysis showed that there was little difference between the way Black and White Atlantans voted for the candidates with the highest percentages of votes in the city, and despite a 20% gap between the Black and White voting age population, one third of those registered to vote actually went to the polls, with Norman Underwood and Jack Watson receiving the highest percentages of votes. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, August 20, 1982
Date Created
1982--08-20
Description
An analysis showed that there was little difference between the way Black and White Atlantans voted for the candidates with the highest percentages of votes in the city, and despite a 20% gap between the Black and White voting age population, one third of those registered to vote actually went to the polls, with Norman Underwood and Jack Watson receiving the highest percentages of votes. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Robert Flanagan, a field service representative of the Voter Education Project, emphasizes the importance of one vote in historical events such as Adolph Hitler's rise to power and Thomas Jefferson's presidency, and urges for massive and organized voter registration efforts, especially among Black, White, and Hispanic communities, to prevent political demise and ensure the renewal of the Voting Rights Act, as discussed at the Southern Regional Voting Rights Conference sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Conference. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"One Vote Makes a Difference", April 22, 1982
Date Created
1982-04-22
Description
Robert Flanagan, a field service representative of the Voter Education Project, emphasizes the importance of one vote in historical events such as Adolph Hitler's rise to power and Thomas Jefferson's presidency, and urges for massive and organized voter registration efforts, especially among Black, White, and Hispanic communities, to prevent political demise and ensure the renewal of the Voting Rights Act, as discussed at the Southern Regional Voting Rights Conference sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Conference. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Articles from "The Po' Folks Reporter" paper in Tifton, Georgia, covering news on the VEP, voting rights, and civil rights in Georgia. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Rights Conference Salted", March 1982
Date Created
1982-03
Description
Articles from "The Po' Folks Reporter" paper in Tifton, Georgia, covering news on the VEP, voting rights, and civil rights in Georgia. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The General Election of 1982, Fulton County, study examines the impact of racial and regional voting behaviors on the race for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state. 15 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The General Election of Fulton County, 1982
Date Created
1982
Author
Brimah, K. Farouk
Description
The General Election of 1982, Fulton County, study examines the impact of racial and regional voting behaviors on the race for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state. 15 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Booklet describing the VEP Information Service and how it collects, stores, and disseminates data and statistics to electorate and news organizations. Includes evaluation and reporting forms. 35 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Information Service Handbook, 1974
Date Created
1974
Description
Booklet describing the VEP Information Service and how it collects, stores, and disseminates data and statistics to electorate and news organizations. Includes evaluation and reporting forms. 35 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A short history and activities conducted by the VEP. 9 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"A Statement on the Voter Education Project of the Southern Regional Council, Inc.", June 14, 1969
Date Created
1969-06-14
Description
A short history and activities conducted by the VEP. 9 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
News clipping on Vernon Jordan, along with article on a poll taken in January to determine voter preferences for the next mayor of Atlanta, former U.S. Rep. Charles L. Weltner and Vice Mayor Sam Massell were about even, with Alderman Rodney Cook somewhat behind, however, the poll's reliability was questioned due to its early timing and small sample size of 300 registered voters. With correspondence from Billie and Harry Pfiffner. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Atlanta Attorney Jordan Named Alumnus of the Year at Depew", March 21, 1969
Date Created
1969--03-21
Description
News clipping on Vernon Jordan, along with article on a poll taken in January to determine voter preferences for the next mayor of Atlanta, former U.S. Rep. Charles L. Weltner and Vice Mayor Sam Massell were about even, with Alderman Rodney Cook somewhat behind, however, the poll's reliability was questioned due to its early timing and small sample size of 300 registered voters. With correspondence from Billie and Harry Pfiffner. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses political figure Julian Bond, who is well-known and influential in the Atlanta Black community, but may not fare well among White voters in Georgia, and questions whether it is equally "racial" politics to suggest that in the future Black voters will only vote for a Black candidate. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Mayors Race", February 19, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-19
Author
Gulliver, Hal
Description
The article discusses political figure Julian Bond, who is well-known and influential in the Atlanta Black community, but may not fare well among White voters in Georgia, and questions whether it is equally "racial" politics to suggest that in the future Black voters will only vote for a Black candidate. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
In 1969, State Rep. Julian Bond predicted that a Black mayor would be elected in Atlanta, and that Black Atlanta would become the majority, resulting in either an orderly transition of government or a state of political cold war between the races, depending on the willingness of the Black community to unify and the White community to accept the inevitable future, and argued for the need for a strong political organization and ward elections in the city. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan concerning Julian Bond's interest in Congress over mayorship. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Last White Mayor in '69, Bond Says", February 13, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-13
Description
In 1969, State Rep. Julian Bond predicted that a Black mayor would be elected in Atlanta, and that Black Atlanta would become the majority, resulting in either an orderly transition of government or a state of political cold war between the races, depending on the willingness of the Black community to unify and the White community to accept the inevitable future, and argued for the need for a strong political organization and ward elections in the city. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan concerning Julian Bond's interest in Congress over mayorship. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A short history of the VEP and explanation of how it would spend contributions to advance the minority vote. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"What is the Voter Education Project?", circa 1970
Date Created
1968/1972
Description
A short history of the VEP and explanation of how it would spend contributions to advance the minority vote. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"How to Conduct a Registration Campaign" created by VEP intern and Spelman College sophomore Patricia Collins working in the office of Mayor Irving Allen. 24 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"How to Conduct a Registration Campaign", 1967
Date Created
1967
Author
Collins, Patricia
Description
"How to Conduct a Registration Campaign" created by VEP intern and Spelman College sophomore Patricia Collins working in the office of Mayor Irving Allen. 24 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records