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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Flyer listing registration deadline and voting day. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Is a Responsibility, Not Just a Right", 1986
Date Created
1986
Description
Flyer listing registration deadline and voting day. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
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
Correspondence between Geraldine Thompson and Marlene K. Cohn discussing the final stages of developing a publication, "Electoral Participation: Gateway to Democracy" and outline of the publication. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Geraldine Thompson and Marlene K. Cohn, October 17, 1985
Date Created
1985-10-17
Description
Correspondence between Geraldine Thompson and Marlene K. Cohn discussing the final stages of developing a publication, "Electoral Participation: Gateway to Democracy" and outline of the publication. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Women--Societies and clubs
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence between Donald Hollowell and Lynn Walker regarding funding.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Donald Hollowell and Lynn Walker, October 10, 1985
Date Created
1985-10-10
Description
Correspondence between Donald Hollowell and Lynn Walker regarding funding.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc.
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence between Donald Hollowell and R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. regarding the VEP Board's deliberations on the recommendations of the Special Committee of the Board.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Donald Hollowell and R. Roosevelt Thomas, September 20, 1985
Date Created
1985-09-20
Description
Correspondence between Donald Hollowell and R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. regarding the VEP Board's deliberations on the recommendations of the Special Committee of the Board.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc., Meetings
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Targeting the Women's Vote" address before the National Women's Political Caucus report by Paul O. Wilson, president of National Election Services Cooperation. 21 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Targeting the Women's Vote" Address Before the National Women's Political Caucus, June 27, 1985
Date Created
1985-06-27
Description
"Targeting the Women's Vote" address before the National Women's Political Caucus report by Paul O. Wilson, president of National Election Services Cooperation. 21 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project issuing a resolution urging the U.S. Senate to reject the confirmation of William Bradford Reynolds as Associate Attorney General of the United States. VEP believed that Reynolds was not qualified for the position and that his confirmation would further entrench the ongoing reversal in civil rights. VEP cited Reynolds' opposition to the renewal of the Voting Rights Act, his misinterpretation of the law, and his attempts to give tax exemptions to segregated schools as evidence of his unsuitability for the position. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, June 19, 1985
Date Created
1985-06-19
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project issuing a resolution urging the U.S. Senate to reject the confirmation of William Bradford Reynolds as Associate Attorney General of the United States. VEP believed that Reynolds was not qualified for the position and that his confirmation would further entrench the ongoing reversal in civil rights. VEP cited Reynolds' opposition to the renewal of the Voting Rights Act, his misinterpretation of the law, and his attempts to give tax exemptions to segregated schools as evidence of his unsuitability for the position. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing the first Statewide Black Women's Conference on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday, June 22nd, 1985. The keynote speaker for the conference was set to be former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. The conference was designed to encourage Black women to participate in the political process and to become more involved in local politics. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 28, 1985
Date Created
1985-05-28
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing the first Statewide Black Women's Conference on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday, June 22nd, 1985. The keynote speaker for the conference was set to be former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. The conference was designed to encourage Black women to participate in the political process and to become more involved in local politics. 2 pages.
Subject
Meetings, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding an analysis of the mayoralty and councilmanic elections in College Park, Georgia. The analysis found that there were numerous obstacles to full and fair Black political participation in College Park, including the election date, the location of the polls, and the way registration lists and registration data were maintained. The analysis also found that Blacks were more likely to be purged from the voter rolls than whites. VEP Executive Director Gerri Thompson said that the obstacles in College Park were typical of cities and other jurisdictions throughout the South where Blacks struggled for a fair share of political power. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 22, 1985
Date Created
1985-05-22
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding an analysis of the mayoralty and councilmanic elections in College Park, Georgia. The analysis found that there were numerous obstacles to full and fair Black political participation in College Park, including the election date, the location of the polls, and the way registration lists and registration data were maintained. The analysis also found that Blacks were more likely to be purged from the voter rolls than whites. VEP Executive Director Gerri Thompson said that the obstacles in College Park were typical of cities and other jurisdictions throughout the South where Blacks struggled for a fair share of political power. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing how Black candidates for municipal, county, and state offices faced primary and general elections in 1985 throughout the South. There were several important races, including the contest for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia, the mayor's race in Jackson, Mississippi, and municipal elections in Georgia and Alabama under new single-member district election plans. The Voter Education Project (VEP) encouraged Black voters to participate in these elections and to let their power be felt. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 7, 1985
Date Created
1985-05-07
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing how Black candidates for municipal, county, and state offices faced primary and general elections in 1985 throughout the South. There were several important races, including the contest for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia, the mayor's race in Jackson, Mississippi, and municipal elections in Georgia and Alabama under new single-member district election plans. The Voter Education Project (VEP) encouraged Black voters to participate in these elections and to let their power be felt. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing Geraldine G. Thompson's resignation as the Executive Director of the Voter Education Project due to personal reasons. Thompson worked tirelessly to advance the cause of voting rights for African Americans, and her resignation was seen as a loss to the organization. However, VEP was committed to continuing its work, and a search committee was appointed to find Thompson's successor. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, April 30, 1985
Date Created
1985-04-30
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing Geraldine G. Thompson's resignation as the Executive Director of the Voter Education Project due to personal reasons. Thompson worked tirelessly to advance the cause of voting rights for African Americans, and her resignation was seen as a loss to the organization. However, VEP was committed to continuing its work, and a search committee was appointed to find Thompson's successor. 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study, which found that Black voter turnout in Tennessee was significantly lower than white voter turnout in the 1984 presidential election. The study found that only 40% of age-eligible Blacks in Tennessee voted, compared to 50.1% of age-eligible whites. The study also found that Black voters were more likely to vote for Walter Mondale than Ronald Reagan, while white voters were more likely to vote for Reagan. The VEP study suggested that claims that Reagan received as much as 10% or 12% of the Black vote nationwide were questionable. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, March 25, 1985
Date Created
1985-03-25
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study, which found that Black voter turnout in Tennessee was significantly lower than white voter turnout in the 1984 presidential election. The study found that only 40% of age-eligible Blacks in Tennessee voted, compared to 50.1% of age-eligible whites. The study also found that Black voters were more likely to vote for Walter Mondale than Ronald Reagan, while white voters were more likely to vote for Reagan. The VEP study suggested that claims that Reagan received as much as 10% or 12% of the Black vote nationwide were questionable. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study, which found that Black voter turnout in Texas was significantly lower than white voter turnout in the 1984 presidential election. The study found that only 41% of age-eligible Blacks in Texas voted, compared to 57% of age-eligible whites. The study also found that Black voters were more likely to vote for Walter Mondale than Ronald Reagan, while white voters were more likely to vote for Reagan. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, March 21, 1985
Date Created
1985-03-21
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study, which found that Black voter turnout in Texas was significantly lower than white voter turnout in the 1984 presidential election. The study found that only 41% of age-eligible Blacks in Texas voted, compared to 57% of age-eligible whites. The study also found that Black voters were more likely to vote for Walter Mondale than Ronald Reagan, while white voters were more likely to vote for Reagan. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study, which found that Ronald Reagan received less than 1% of the Black vote in Florida in the 1984 presidential election. The study also found that Black voter turnout in Florida was significantly lower than white voter turnout. The study suggested that exit polls released soon after the election overestimated the Black vote for Reagan. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, March 20, 1985
Date Created
1985-03-20
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study, which found that Ronald Reagan received less than 1% of the Black vote in Florida in the 1984 presidential election. The study also found that Black voter turnout in Florida was significantly lower than white voter turnout. The study suggested that exit polls released soon after the election overestimated the Black vote for Reagan. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reflections on the Selma March and Plans for the Future", March 8, 1985
Date Created
1985--03-08
Description
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
During 1984, the National Coalition sponsored OPERATION BIG VOTE coalitions in 25 states and the District of Columbia, resulting in the highest ever reported Black voter registration at 66.3 percent, an increase in turnout to 56 percent, and the net gain of 2.5 million voters, with plans to continue nationwide operations in the future. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Operation Big Vote Newsletter, February 27, 1985
Date Created
1985-02-27
Description
During 1984, the National Coalition sponsored OPERATION BIG VOTE coalitions in 25 states and the District of Columbia, resulting in the highest ever reported Black voter registration at 66.3 percent, an increase in turnout to 56 percent, and the net gain of 2.5 million voters, with plans to continue nationwide operations in the future. 6 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Voting, Groups and organizations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A nonprofit voter registration organization newsletter focusing on decreasing voting gaps between Black and White voters, as well as an increase in women's participation in voting, largely due to organized voter registration efforts by human service agencies and other groups, although some pessimistic views were expressed regarding the overall turnout increase and its implications for declining voter participation trends, and the upcoming 1986 Senate elections were expected to feature hotly contested races with sharp ideological differences. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Human Serve Fund Newsletter, February 20, 1985
Date Created
1985-02-20
Description
A nonprofit voter registration organization newsletter focusing on decreasing voting gaps between Black and White voters, as well as an increase in women's participation in voting, largely due to organized voter registration efforts by human service agencies and other groups, although some pessimistic views were expressed regarding the overall turnout increase and its implications for declining voter participation trends, and the upcoming 1986 Senate elections were expected to feature hotly contested races with sharp ideological differences. 5 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, African American women, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
This report describes the efforts to discredit and reduce the participation of Black leaders and voters in five counties in Alabama through various means, including criminal charges and investigations into voting fraud, as well as the indictment of several Black civil rights activists on charges of conspiracy to commit voting fraud. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Fact Sheet on Federal Jury Investigations and Indictments of Black Leaders in Alabama for Voter Fraud", 1985
Date Created
1985
Description
This report describes the efforts to discredit and reduce the participation of Black leaders and voters in five counties in Alabama through various means, including criminal charges and investigations into voting fraud, as well as the indictment of several Black civil rights activists on charges of conspiracy to commit voting fraud. 5 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Employee manual of the VEP describing organizational structure, employment, salaries, etc. 24 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Employee Manual, 1985
Date Created
1985
Description
Employee manual of the VEP describing organizational structure, employment, salaries, etc. 24 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Employment, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Flyer listing voting locations and voting issues in the special election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"It is Time for a Change", 1985
Date Created
1985
Description
Flyer listing voting locations and voting issues in the special election. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records