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--Politics and government
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
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
Flyer for the 20th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Selma to Montgomery, 20 Years Later", 1985
Date Created
1985
Description
Flyer for the 20th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The author alerts their research findings to show more racial polarization in the November 6 election than the exit polls, and disagrees with those who claim exit polls are more accurate, citing examples of discrepancies in past elections and flaws in sampling and self-reporting, and challenges the argument that behavior in mixed precincts is different from all-Black or all-white precincts, and suggests that exit polls gain credibility through exposure but may not necessarily be accurate. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence From Brian to Geraldine Thompson, November 28, 1984
Date Created
1984-11-28
Description
The author alerts their research findings to show more racial polarization in the November 6 election than the exit polls, and disagrees with those who claim exit polls are more accurate, citing examples of discrepancies in past elections and flaws in sampling and self-reporting, and challenges the argument that behavior in mixed precincts is different from all-Black or all-white precincts, and suggests that exit polls gain credibility through exposure but may not necessarily be accurate. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study by the Voter Education Project (VEP), which found that Southern congressional representatives were not responsive to Black concerns. The study found that the average Southern representative received a low rating on a Black Concerns Scale, and that there was considerable variation among the states in their degree of responsiveness. The study also found that Republican representatives were much more nonresponsive to Black concerns than Democratic representatives. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, August 28, 1984
Date Created
1984-08-28
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study by the Voter Education Project (VEP), which found that Southern congressional representatives were not responsive to Black concerns. The study found that the average Southern representative received a low rating on a Black Concerns Scale, and that there was considerable variation among the states in their degree of responsiveness. The study also found that Republican representatives were much more nonresponsive to Black concerns than Democratic representatives. 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 analysis of four factors that could determine whether the white incumbent in Georgia's Fifth Congressional District would be unseated by one of his four Black challengers. The factors were the Black turnout rate, the white turnout rate, the black crossover rate, and the white crossover rate. The VEP analysis showed that a close election was possible, but a clear win for the incumbent or one of the Black challengers was also possible. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, August 13, 1984
Date Created
1984-08-13
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding analysis of four factors that could determine whether the white incumbent in Georgia's Fifth Congressional District would be unseated by one of his four Black challengers. The factors were the Black turnout rate, the white turnout rate, the black crossover rate, and the white crossover rate. The VEP analysis showed that a close election was possible, but a clear win for the incumbent or one of the Black challengers was also possible. 3 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"More Blacks are turning to the politics of frustration", "Federal workers await voter registration rule", and "Rev. Jesse Jackson and his "tribal politics". 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"More Blacks are Turning to the Politics of Frustration", July 15, 1984
Date Created
1984-07-15
Description
"More Blacks are turning to the politics of frustration", "Federal workers await voter registration rule", and "Rev. Jesse Jackson and his "tribal politics". 6 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Voter registration, Race discrimination, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study by the Voter Education Project, which found that Ken Moseley, a Black, won the South Carolina second congressional district primary because of a higher Black turnout rate and a higher Black crossover vote. Moseley received 87% of his votes from Blacks and 13% from whites, while Stevenson received 64% of her votes from whites and 36% from Blacks. The results from the Second Congressional District followed trends observed elsewhere in the south in the 1984 primaries, where Blacks were participating in Democratic primaries at a much higher rate than whites and were having a significant impact on the selection of the party's candidates. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, July 2, 1984
Date Created
1984-07-02
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study by the Voter Education Project, which found that Ken Moseley, a Black, won the South Carolina second congressional district primary because of a higher Black turnout rate and a higher Black crossover vote. Moseley received 87% of his votes from Blacks and 13% from whites, while Stevenson received 64% of her votes from whites and 36% from Blacks. The results from the Second Congressional District followed trends observed elsewhere in the south in the 1984 primaries, where Blacks were participating in Democratic primaries at a much higher rate than whites and were having a significant impact on the selection of the party's candidates. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Jesse Jackson criticized the United States' "arrogance" in Central America during his second major foreign trip of his Democratic presidential campaign, finding support among Mexican government officials for his condemnation of President Reagan's Central American policies and peace plan, which emphasizes negotiation and dialogue rather than force and monologue, and calls for ending military aid to El Salvador, normalizing relations with Cuba, ending support for anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua, and ending U.S. military involvement or assistance in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jackson's Attacks on Reagan Wins Mexican Leaders", May 29, 1984
Date Created
1984-05-29
Description
Jesse Jackson criticized the United States' "arrogance" in Central America during his second major foreign trip of his Democratic presidential campaign, finding support among Mexican government officials for his condemnation of President Reagan's Central American policies and peace plan, which emphasizes negotiation and dialogue rather than force and monologue, and calls for ending military aid to El Salvador, normalizing relations with Cuba, ending support for anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua, and ending U.S. military involvement or assistance in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, International relations, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study of the May 8 gubernatorial primary in North Carolina, which found that Rufus Edmisten was the first choice among white voters, while Edward "Eddie" Knox was the first choice among Black voters. Knox was also second among white voters, while Edmisten was second among Black voters. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 29, 1984
Date Created
1984-05-29
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study of the May 8 gubernatorial primary in North Carolina, which found that Rufus Edmisten was the first choice among white voters, while Edward "Eddie" Knox was the first choice among Black voters. Knox was also second among white voters, while Edmisten was second among Black voters. 1 page.
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 by the Voter Education Project, which found that Ken Spaulding, a Black challenger, lost the Democratic primary in North Carolina's second congressional district to Tim Valentine, the white incumbent. Spaulding received strong support from Black voters, but he was not able to win over enough white voters outside of Durham County. Valentine received 31.8% of the white vote, which was enough to secure his victory. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 27, 1984
Date Created
1984-05-27
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study by the Voter Education Project, which found that Ken Spaulding, a Black challenger, lost the Democratic primary in North Carolina's second congressional district to Tim Valentine, the white incumbent. Spaulding received strong support from Black voters, but he was not able to win over enough white voters outside of Durham County. Valentine received 31.8% of the white vote, which was enough to secure his victory. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Discrimination Hearing Set", "DeKalb awaiting justice review of vote legislation", and " A Sumter County non-solution". 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Discrimination Hearing Set", "Dekalb Awaiting Justice Review of Vote Legislation", May 24, 1984
Date Created
1984-05-24
Description
"Discrimination Hearing Set", "DeKalb awaiting justice review of vote legislation", and " A Sumter County non-solution". 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination, Dispute Resolution
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study of the May 8 presidential primary in North Carolina, which found that the Black vote was crucial to Jesse Jackson's strong showing, and it also provided the critical edge Walter Mondale needed to beat Gary Hart in the overall voting. Hart came in first by a very slim margin among white voters, but Mondale received 13.5% of the Black vote, which was fifteen times greater than the 0.9% of the Black vote that went to Hart. Jackson received 84.2% of the Black vote, with the remaining 1.4% going to other candidates or uncommitted. The Black vote was also crucial because the crossover vote by Blacks was almost twice as great as the crossover vote by whites. 15.6% of the Blacks voting cast their ballots for a white candidate, whereas only 8.6% of the whites voted for the Black candidate. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 15, 1984
Date Created
1984-05-15
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a study of the May 8 presidential primary in North Carolina, which found that the Black vote was crucial to Jesse Jackson's strong showing, and it also provided the critical edge Walter Mondale needed to beat Gary Hart in the overall voting. Hart came in first by a very slim margin among white voters, but Mondale received 13.5% of the Black vote, which was fifteen times greater than the 0.9% of the Black vote that went to Hart. Jackson received 84.2% of the Black vote, with the remaining 1.4% going to other candidates or uncommitted. The Black vote was also crucial because the crossover vote by Blacks was almost twice as great as the crossover vote by whites. 15.6% of the Blacks voting cast their ballots for a white candidate, whereas only 8.6% of the whites voted for the Black candidate. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black-voter registration and turnout has increased dramatically in the past year, with some of the highest increases occurring in the South, and while Rev. Jesse L. Jackson's presidential candidacy is often credited with this phenomenon, analysts argue that the Reagan Administration's policies, particularly its effort to weaken the Voting Rights Act, played a significant role in spurring voter registration drives and increasing Black voter turnout. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Registration Drive Preceded Jackson's", May 6, 1984
Date Created
1984-05-06
Description
Black-voter registration and turnout has increased dramatically in the past year, with some of the highest increases occurring in the South, and while Rev. Jesse L. Jackson's presidential candidacy is often credited with this phenomenon, analysts argue that the Reagan Administration's policies, particularly its effort to weaken the Voting Rights Act, played a significant role in spurring voter registration drives and increasing Black voter turnout. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in the 1980s has led to a revival of Black political interest in the South, with high Black voter registration and turnout inspiring many Blacks to run for office in unusually high numbers and giving them hope that the power of the vote will be recognized in local races for city councils, county commissions, sheriff, mayoral and congressional seats. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jackson's Loading of Bandwagon Buoys Hopes of Black Candidates", April 25, 1984
Date Created
1984-04-25
Description
Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in the 1980s has led to a revival of Black political interest in the South, with high Black voter registration and turnout inspiring many Blacks to run for office in unusually high numbers and giving them hope that the power of the vote will be recognized in local races for city councils, county commissions, sheriff, mayoral and congressional seats. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black voter registration has increased almost 2-to-1 compared to White voter registration in the past 18 months in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, potentially giving state Rep. Kenneth B. Spaulding, a Black candidate, an advantage in his bid to defeat the White incumbent, I.T. "Tim" Valentine, for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming primary election, where Black voters are expected to turn out in large numbers, spurred by Jesse L. Jackson's presidential candidacy. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"New Black Voters Outnumber Whites Nearly 2 to 1", April 18, 1984
Date Created
1984-04-18
Description
Black voter registration has increased almost 2-to-1 compared to White voter registration in the past 18 months in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, potentially giving state Rep. Kenneth B. Spaulding, a Black candidate, an advantage in his bid to defeat the White incumbent, I.T. "Tim" Valentine, for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming primary election, where Black voters are expected to turn out in large numbers, spurred by Jesse L. Jackson's presidential candidacy. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Increase and Impact: Black participation in Southern politics, 1984", and "Project votes reaches the poor". 8 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Increase and Impact: Black Participation in Southern Politics, 1984", Summer 1984
Date Created
1984
Description
"Increase and Impact: Black participation in Southern politics, 1984", and "Project votes reaches the poor". 8 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records