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 = Voter registration
  • Subjects = African Americans--Politics and government
Newspaper article regarding a poll tax study, organized by county, compiled by state Auditor Jimmie (Red) Jones that revealed eligible voters in Arkansas increased in 1958. The number of white voters increased by 17,942, and the number of Black voters increased by 8,581. The total number of eligible voters was 517,897 white people and 72,004 Black people. The increase in voter turnout was seen in most counties, but there was no significant change in poll tax buying from two years ago. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Poll Tax Study Shows 590,501 Eligible Voters", 1960
Date Created
1960
Description
Newspaper article regarding a poll tax study, organized by county, compiled by state Auditor Jimmie (Red) Jones that revealed eligible voters in Arkansas increased in 1958. The number of white voters increased by 17,942, and the number of Black voters increased by 8,581. The total number of eligible voters was 517,897 white people and 72,004 Black people. The increase in voter turnout was seen in most counties, but there was no significant change in poll tax buying from two years ago. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Poll tax
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A draft and a final copy of a memorandum regarding the accuracy of voter registration figures in southern states. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Memorandum and Draft from Marvin Wall to Paul Anthony, circa 1964
Date Created
1959/1969
Description
A draft and a final copy of a memorandum regarding the accuracy of voter registration figures in southern states. 4 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records