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.
258 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
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  • Subjects = Voter registration
  • Decade = 1970-1979
Unidentified VEP workers stands outside a small building, possibly voter registration.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
Unidentified VEP workers stands outside a small building, possibly voter registration.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Unidentified VEP workers work on voter registration outside of a car.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
Unidentified VEP workers work on voter registration outside of a car.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Unidentified VEP workers work on voter registration outside of a car.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
Unidentified VEP workers work on voter registration outside of a car.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis sits in a living room and talks to women voters.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Talks to Voters, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
John R. Lewis sits in a living room and talks to women voters.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Portraits and people, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis sits in a living room and talks to women voters.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Talks to Voters, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
John R. Lewis sits in a living room and talks to women voters.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Portraits and people, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP workers assist people registering to vote in downtown Atlanta.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
VEP workers assist people registering to vote in downtown Atlanta.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP workers assist people registering to vote in downtown Atlanta.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
VEP workers assist people registering to vote in downtown Atlanta.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP workers sit at a voter registration table in downtown Atlanta.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
VEP workers sit at a voter registration table in downtown Atlanta.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis sits in a living room and talks to women voters.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Talks to Voters, circa 1977
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
John R. Lewis sits in a living room and talks to women voters.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Portraits and people, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Sketch of a Southeast Arkansas Voter Registration Project flyer from Crosett, AR, depicting a supreme court member balancing a house with the "Bakke Decision" hovering over. The Bakke Decision was were the Supreme Court ruled that a university's use of racial "quotas" in its admissions process was unconstitutional, but a school's use of "affirmative action" to accept more minority applicants was constitutional in some circumstances. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Your Future Could Be Up in the Air, Register and Vote!", circa 1978
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
Sketch of a Southeast Arkansas Voter Registration Project flyer from Crosett, AR, depicting a supreme court member balancing a house with the "Bakke Decision" hovering over. The Bakke Decision was were the Supreme Court ruled that a university's use of racial "quotas" in its admissions process was unconstitutional, but a school's use of "affirmative action" to accept more minority applicants was constitutional in some circumstances. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Sketch of a Southeast Arkansas Voter Registration Project flyer from Crosett, AR, depicting wolves at a door representing welfare, oppression, unemployment, etc. to those who don't heed the call to represent one selves and vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Keep the Wolves from Your Door, Register and Vote!", circa 1978
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
Sketch of a Southeast Arkansas Voter Registration Project flyer from Crosett, AR, depicting wolves at a door representing welfare, oppression, unemployment, etc. to those who don't heed the call to represent one selves and vote. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Sketch of a Southeast Arkansas Voter Registration Project flyer from Crosett, AR, depicting a hand dropping a ballot in a voting box, encouraging voters to vote for their issues and causes. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Hand That Drops the Ballot Rules His World", circa 1978
Date Created
1975/1979
Description
Sketch of a Southeast Arkansas Voter Registration Project flyer from Crosett, AR, depicting a hand dropping a ballot in a voting box, encouraging voters to vote for their issues and causes. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing two Southern politicians, Bob Bullock of Texas and Zell Miller of Georgia, public support of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Bullock stated that the law was working and protecting the right to vote, while Miller stated that it should be extended to the entire nation. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Good Old Boys in the New South", November 30, 1975
Date Created
1975-11-30
Description
Newspaper article describing two Southern politicians, Bob Bullock of Texas and Zell Miller of Georgia, public support of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Bullock stated that the law was working and protecting the right to vote, while Miller stated that it should be extended to the entire nation. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing Georgia Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller's calls for all states to be brought under the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Miller said that the act, which was passed to ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or color, are not discriminated against at the polls, was only applied to seven states, including Georgia and Texas. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Zell Miller Vows Campaign To Make U.S. Voting Rights Act Nationwide", November 27, 1975
Date Created
1975-11-27
Description
Newspaper article describing Georgia Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller's calls for all states to be brought under the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Miller said that the act, which was passed to ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, creed, or color, are not discriminated against at the polls, was only applied to seven states, including Georgia and Texas. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing Lt. Gov. Zell Miller of Georgia's praise of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for increasing voter registration and the number of Black elected officials in the South. However, he criticized Congress for not applying the law uniformly to all 50 states. Miller said that the law should be extended to all states, not just the South and states with large Spanish-speaking populations. He argued that it was discriminatory to apply the law to some states but not to others. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Miller in Texas, Praises Voting Act", November 24, 1975
Date Created
1975-11-24
Description
Newspaper article describing Lt. Gov. Zell Miller of Georgia's praise of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for increasing voter registration and the number of Black elected officials in the South. However, he criticized Congress for not applying the law uniformly to all 50 states. Miller said that the law should be extended to all states, not just the South and states with large Spanish-speaking populations. He argued that it was discriminatory to apply the law to some states but not to others. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Federal Regulations, with the objective of making the registration and voting process for language minority groups comparable to that of English speakers, and providing guidance on compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Department of Justice, Voting Rights Act Interim Guidelines Regarding Language Minority Groups, October 3, 197
Date Created
1975-10-03
Description
Federal Regulations, with the objective of making the registration and voting process for language minority groups comparable to that of English speakers, and providing guidance on compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. 6 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing President Ford's signing of a seven-year extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, despite warnings from some political advisers that it could harm his conservative image in the South. The legislation was passed by Congress over the objections of some Southern lawmakers, who argued that it was punitive and unfairly regional in scope. Ford's decision to sign the bill was praised by civil rights leaders, who said it was a victory for democracy. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ford in Publicity Glare For Voter Rights Signing", August 7, 1975
Date Created
1975-08-07
Description
Newspaper article describing President Ford's signing of a seven-year extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, despite warnings from some political advisers that it could harm his conservative image in the South. The legislation was passed by Congress over the objections of some Southern lawmakers, who argued that it was punitive and unfairly regional in scope. Ford's decision to sign the bill was praised by civil rights leaders, who said it was a victory for democracy. 1 page.
Subject
Presidents, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing Lt. Gov. Zell Miller of Georgia's calls for voting law changes that would increase voter registration and turnout. He specifically called for a switch to voter registration by mail, polling places to be open until 9 p.m., the mandated purge of voting lists to be expanded or eliminated, and ballots to be simplified. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Miller Asks Voting Reforms", August 6, 1975
Date Created
1975-08-06
Description
Newspaper article describing Lt. Gov. Zell Miller of Georgia's calls for voting law changes that would increase voter registration and turnout. He specifically called for a switch to voter registration by mail, polling places to be open until 9 p.m., the mandated purge of voting lists to be expanded or eliminated, and ballots to be simplified. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing the U.S. Senate voting down of an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that would have expanded the law to all 50 states. The amendment was proposed by Sen. Herman Talmadge, who argued that the law should be applied to all areas of the country where minority voting participation has been low. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Expanded Vote Act Refused by Senate", July 23, 1975
Date Created
1975-07-23
Description
Newspaper article describing the U.S. Senate voting down of an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that would have expanded the law to all 50 states. The amendment was proposed by Sen. Herman Talmadge, who argued that the law should be applied to all areas of the country where minority voting participation has been low. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's efforts to to secure a 10-year extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, despite Southern pushback from Sens. James Allen and Jesse Helms, who tried to block the bill from being debated. Mansfield warned that the Senate would "confront the issue" if such tactics continued to be used. The updated bill would expand the law to cover Mexican-Americans and other language minority groups. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Act Extension Is Pressed", July 19, 1975
Date Created
1975-07-19
Description
Newspaper article discussing Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's efforts to to secure a 10-year extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, despite Southern pushback from Sens. James Allen and Jesse Helms, who tried to block the bill from being debated. Mansfield warned that the Senate would "confront the issue" if such tactics continued to be used. The updated bill would expand the law to cover Mexican-Americans and other language minority groups. 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records