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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The article discusses the challenges faced by Black politicians, such as Andrew Young, who are seeking higher office in predominantly White areas, due to the resistance they face from White voters. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Why the Higher Rungs of Power Elude Black Politicians", February 26, 1989
Date Created
1989-02-26
Description
The article discusses the challenges faced by Black politicians, such as Andrew Young, who are seeking higher office in predominantly White areas, due to the resistance they face from White voters. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Race discrimination, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper book review of Abigail Themstrom's "Whose Votes Count: Affirmative Action and Minority Voting Rights", which examined the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its impact on minority representation in government. Themstrom argued that the act had been distorted from its original intent and that the current focus on proportional representation was misguided. She believed that the act should be amended to focus on equality of opportunity, rather than equality of outcomes. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Beginning with Voting", February 20, 1989
Date Created
1989-02-20
Description
Newspaper book review of Abigail Themstrom's "Whose Votes Count: Affirmative Action and Minority Voting Rights", which examined the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its impact on minority representation in government. Themstrom argued that the act had been distorted from its original intent and that the current focus on proportional representation was misguided. She believed that the act should be amended to focus on equality of opportunity, rather than equality of outcomes. 4 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
A report by the nonpartisan Southern Regional Council (SRC) in Atlanta suggests that the Democrats could win a majority of the Southern states in the next presidential election with only a modest increase in Southern White support, if the rate of registration and turnout of Black and Hispanic voters equals that of whites in 1992. The study shows that Democratic gains in predominantly White precincts were cancelled out by a sharp decline in votes since 1984 in majority Black precincts, and that Democratic inroads into White urban voters in the South were nullified by the party's failure to increase the actual number of Black votes. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Southern Regional Council News Release, 1992 Presidential Election, February 10, 1989
Date Created
1989-02-10
Description
A report by the nonpartisan Southern Regional Council (SRC) in Atlanta suggests that the Democrats could win a majority of the Southern states in the next presidential election with only a modest increase in Southern White support, if the rate of registration and turnout of Black and Hispanic voters equals that of whites in 1992. The study shows that Democratic gains in predominantly White precincts were cancelled out by a sharp decline in votes since 1984 in majority Black precincts, and that Democratic inroads into White urban voters in the South were nullified by the party's failure to increase the actual number of Black votes. 6 pages.
Subject
Political campaigns, Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A blank voter registration application. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration Application, Blank, 1989
Date Created
1989
Description
A blank voter registration application. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Handbook used in the training of Fulton County Field Deputy Registrars, which includes information regarding Georgia election code rules and regulations, registration qualifications, and instructions for completing voter registration. 42 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Fulton County Field Deputy Registrar Instruction" Booklet, circa 1990
Date Created
1988/1992
Description
Handbook used in the training of Fulton County Field Deputy Registrars, which includes information regarding Georgia election code rules and regulations, registration qualifications, and instructions for completing voter registration. 42 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
An invitation to a VEP reception honoring Attorney Donald L. Hollowell.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Reception Invitation, September 23, 1988
Date Created
1988-09-23
Description
An invitation to a VEP reception honoring Attorney Donald L. Hollowell.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc., Special events
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article highlights the inhumane working conditions and racist policies at the Samsons and Delilah manufacturing plants located in Georgia, where most of the 650 workers are African American women, and the call to action for support and solidarity with the workers who have recently voted to unionize and are facing violation of state and federal civil, rights, and labor laws by the owner, S. Lichtenburg and Company, Inc. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Samsons and Delila: Slavery in Georgia, by Benjamin F. Chavis, 1988
Date Created
1988
Description
The article highlights the inhumane working conditions and racist policies at the Samsons and Delilah manufacturing plants located in Georgia, where most of the 650 workers are African American women, and the call to action for support and solidarity with the workers who have recently voted to unionize and are facing violation of state and federal civil, rights, and labor laws by the owner, S. Lichtenburg and Company, Inc. 1 page.
Subject
Labor, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study on the 1987 mayoral election in College Park, Georgia, Black voters had a majority in voter registration but turnout was significantly lower than white turnout. This resulted in a three-to-one victory margin for the incumbent white mayor. The Voter Education Project (VEP) found that Black voter registration had increased by 7.33% between 1985 and 1987, while white voter registration decreased by 21.43%. VEP called on Black voters in College Park to be more active in the city's politics. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, October 30, 1987
Date Created
1987-10-30
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study on the 1987 mayoral election in College Park, Georgia, Black voters had a majority in voter registration but turnout was significantly lower than white turnout. This resulted in a three-to-one victory margin for the incumbent white mayor. The Voter Education Project (VEP) found that Black voter registration had increased by 7.33% between 1985 and 1987, while white voter registration decreased by 21.43%. VEP called on Black voters in College Park to be more active in the city's politics. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release regarding the 1987 College Park mayoral election, in which white voters participated at a rate almost twice that of Black voters. This disparity in voter turnout helped incumbent mayor T. Owen Smith win by a three-to-one margin over Black candidate Jessie Dent. Dr. K. Farouk Brimah, Director of Research at the Voter Education Project, said that while race played a significant role in the voting behavior of College Park voters, emphasis on increasing the Black vote in the future must be placed on an effective get-out-the-vote campaign. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, October 30, 1987
Date Created
1987-10-30
Description
Press release regarding the 1987 College Park mayoral election, in which white voters participated at a rate almost twice that of Black voters. This disparity in voter turnout helped incumbent mayor T. Owen Smith win by a three-to-one margin over Black candidate Jessie Dent. Dr. K. Farouk Brimah, Director of Research at the Voter Education Project, said that while race played a significant role in the voting behavior of College Park voters, emphasis on increasing the Black vote in the future must be placed on an effective get-out-the-vote campaign. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Southern Women's Political Campaign Workshop brochure describing the workshop schedule an organization's information. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Southern Women's Political Campaign Workshop Brochure, September 26, 1987
Date Created
1987-09-26
Description
The Southern Women's Political Campaign Workshop brochure describing the workshop schedule an organization's information. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records