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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Louisiana Black voters played a crucial role in electing Governor-elect Edwin Edwards with 93% of their votes in the open primary, and Voter Education Project officials stated that increasing Black voter registration could significantly increase their political power in future elections. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, November 10, 1983
Date Created
1983--11-10
Description
Louisiana Black voters played a crucial role in electing Governor-elect Edwin Edwards with 93% of their votes in the open primary, and Voter Education Project officials stated that increasing Black voter registration could significantly increase their political power in future elections. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Political participation, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project reporting that Black voters in Louisiana played a decisive role in the victory of Governor-elect Edwin Edwards. VEP officials said that Edwards received 93% of the Black vote in the open primary, while Republican incumbent David Treen received only 3.2%. VEP also said that Black voter strength in Louisiana could be increased dramatically by the 1984 elections, as almost 50% of Blacks of voting age in Louisiana were not yet registered to vote. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, November 10, 1983
Date Created
1983-11-10
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project reporting that Black voters in Louisiana played a decisive role in the victory of Governor-elect Edwin Edwards. VEP officials said that Edwards received 93% of the Black vote in the open primary, while Republican incumbent David Treen received only 3.2%. VEP also said that Black voter strength in Louisiana could be increased dramatically by the 1984 elections, as almost 50% of Blacks of voting age in Louisiana were not yet registered to vote. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newsletter on Grenada and the strategic importance of the country in the Caribbean. From the Republican National Committee. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Grenada, Defending Freedom", November 4, 1983
Date Created
1983-11-04
Description
Newsletter on Grenada and the strategic importance of the country in the Caribbean. From the Republican National Committee. 4 pages.
Subject
Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Civil rights activist and Atlanta city councilman John Lewis received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award at the annual Voter Education Project banquet for his work in voter registration and education, and spoke optimistically about the progress towards a biracial democracy in the South, after having been beaten unconscious four times and jailed over 40 times for his civil rights and voter registration efforts. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"John Lewis Gets Award From VEP", October 28, 1983
Date Created
1983-10-28
Description
Civil rights activist and Atlanta city councilman John Lewis received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award at the annual Voter Education Project banquet for his work in voter registration and education, and spoke optimistically about the progress towards a biracial democracy in the South, after having been beaten unconscious four times and jailed over 40 times for his civil rights and voter registration efforts. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release announcing "The Plight of Black Colleges and Universities: The Political Impact" conference held at the Robert W. Woodruff Library in Atlanta, Georgia on October 28, 1983. The conference will address the threat to historically Black colleges and universities and explore solutions such as merger strategies, converting them into vocational institutions, and increasing voter registration among Black students. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Plight of Black Colleges and Universities: The Political Impact", October 27, 1983
Date Created
1983--10-27
Description
VEP Press Release announcing "The Plight of Black Colleges and Universities: The Political Impact" conference held at the Robert W. Woodruff Library in Atlanta, Georgia on October 28, 1983. The conference will address the threat to historically Black colleges and universities and explore solutions such as merger strategies, converting them into vocational institutions, and increasing voter registration among Black students. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American students, African American universities and colleges, Special events, Voting, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing Congressman William Gray's shock and dismay at the U.S. military intervention in Grenada. He said that he was assured by the State Department officials that no military intervention would occur, and that he was concerned about the potential for military confrontation with Cuba and the Soviet Union. Gray also criticized the Reagan administration for isolating Grenada, which he said contributed to the instability of the former Grenadian government. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, October 26, 1983
Date Created
1983-10-26
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing Congressman William Gray's shock and dismay at the U.S. military intervention in Grenada. He said that he was assured by the State Department officials that no military intervention would occur, and that he was concerned about the potential for military confrontation with Cuba and the Soviet Union. Gray also criticized the Reagan administration for isolating Grenada, which he said contributed to the instability of the former Grenadian government. 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, International relations, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Voter Education Project's Twenty-First Anniversary Banquet at the Atlanta Omni International Hotel on October 27, 7:30 P.M., will feature Congressman William H. Gray, III as keynote speaker and honor City Councilman John Lewis with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for his contributions to the struggle for voting rights and increasing Black voter registration, while the Mexican Tourist Industry and American Airlines will sponsor a door prize at the VEP dinner. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, October 24, 1983
Date Created
1983--10-24
Description
The Voter Education Project's Twenty-First Anniversary Banquet at the Atlanta Omni International Hotel on October 27, 7:30 P.M., will feature Congressman William H. Gray, III as keynote speaker and honor City Councilman John Lewis with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for his contributions to the struggle for voting rights and increasing Black voter registration, while the Mexican Tourist Industry and American Airlines will sponsor a door prize at the VEP dinner. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the VEP has helped register four million Black voters and increase the number of Black elected officials in the South from 72 in 1965 to early 3,000 in recent times, with most of the VEP's budget coming from foundations, grants are made to local groups ranging from $150 to $2,000, and the organization still encounters voter intimidation in some areas. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Project Fills Rolls 21 years", October 23, 1983
Date Created
1983-10-23
Description
Article on how the VEP has helped register four million Black voters and increase the number of Black elected officials in the South from 72 in 1965 to early 3,000 in recent times, with most of the VEP's budget coming from foundations, grants are made to local groups ranging from $150 to $2,000, and the organization still encounters voter intimidation in some areas. 1 page.
Subject
Groups and organizations, Voter registration, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing that the percentage of Blacks in the Southern population stabilized at 19.6%, halting the previous trend of a shrinking Black population percentage. This meant that Southern Blacks stabilized their numerical potential to influence elections. However, VEP Executive Director Geraldine Thompson said that the task of converting this numerical strength into more Black elected officials is a "Sisyphean task without vigorous enforcement of the Voting Rights Act." VEP Research Director Richard A. Hudlin stated that there would be more than six times the number of Southern Black elected officials if Blacks were elected at the same rate as their population percentage. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, October 19, 1982
Date Created
1983-10-19
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing that the percentage of Blacks in the Southern population stabilized at 19.6%, halting the previous trend of a shrinking Black population percentage. This meant that Southern Blacks stabilized their numerical potential to influence elections. However, VEP Executive Director Geraldine Thompson said that the task of converting this numerical strength into more Black elected officials is a "Sisyphean task without vigorous enforcement of the Voting Rights Act." VEP Research Director Richard A. Hudlin stated that there would be more than six times the number of Southern Black elected officials if Blacks were elected at the same rate as their population percentage. 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 on Bill Gray addressing the 21st dinner of the VEP at the Onmi in Atlanta. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Congressman Bill Gray Will Address the 21st Annual Dinner", October 14, 1983
Date Created
1983--10-14
Description
Press release on Bill Gray addressing the 21st dinner of the VEP at the Onmi in Atlanta. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the Black community grappling with the potential benefits and risks of Jesse L. Jackson's candidacy for President of the United States. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Leaders Agonize as Jesse Jackson Ponders Bid", September 11, 1983
Date Created
1983-09-11
Description
Article on the Black community grappling with the potential benefits and risks of Jesse L. Jackson's candidacy for President of the United States. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The U.S. Census Bureau reported significant gains in housing and education for the African American population during the 1970-80 decade, with higher educational attainment, increased school enrollment, and rising homeownership levels, but income levels for Blacks still lagged behind those of Whites, and the gains were later tempered by increased unemployment, divorce rates, and the rise in the number of Black families headed by females, particularly during the economic downturn that began in 1974. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Registered Substantial Gains in 70, 80 Decade", August 23, 1983
Date Created
1983-08-23
Description
The U.S. Census Bureau reported significant gains in housing and education for the African American population during the 1970-80 decade, with higher educational attainment, increased school enrollment, and rising homeownership levels, but income levels for Blacks still lagged behind those of Whites, and the gains were later tempered by increased unemployment, divorce rates, and the rise in the number of Black families headed by females, particularly during the economic downturn that began in 1974. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Housing, African Americans--Education, African Americans--Civil rights, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Voter Education Project is seeking state legislators' support to abolish the undemocratic relic of one-person governing boards, which 15% of Georgia's counties still have, and according to a study, this form of county government cannot be found outside Georgia; Georgia's devices such as one-person boards and the requirement of runoffs have a chilling effect on efforts by racial and other minorities to achieve effective representation, and VEP officials argue that this facilitated the one-party system which eliminated Blacks as an effective political force a century ago. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Only in Georgia: One Man County Governing Boards", July 17, 1983
Date Created
1983--07-17
Description
The Voter Education Project is seeking state legislators' support to abolish the undemocratic relic of one-person governing boards, which 15% of Georgia's counties still have, and according to a study, this form of county government cannot be found outside Georgia; Georgia's devices such as one-person boards and the requirement of runoffs have a chilling effect on efforts by racial and other minorities to achieve effective representation, and VEP officials argue that this facilitated the one-party system which eliminated Blacks as an effective political force a century ago. 3 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing the status of one-person county governing boards in fifteen percent of Georgia counties. The VEP released a study that found that 15% of Georgia's counties had only one person on the county governing board. This undemocratic relic was not found outside Georgia. VEP Research Director Richard A. Hudlin stated that "A one-person board facilitates 'boss rule' and is the ultimate form of at-large elections." Georgia also prohibited election victories by pluralities, meaning that even if a minority candidate won the most votes in an election, they still had to win a runoff election against the second-place finisher in order to be elected. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, July 17, 1983
Date Created
1983-07-17
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing the status of one-person county governing boards in fifteen percent of Georgia counties. The VEP released a study that found that 15% of Georgia's counties had only one person on the county governing board. This undemocratic relic was not found outside Georgia. VEP Research Director Richard A. Hudlin stated that "A one-person board facilitates 'boss rule' and is the ultimate form of at-large elections." Georgia also prohibited election victories by pluralities, meaning that even if a minority candidate won the most votes in an election, they still had to win a runoff election against the second-place finisher in order to be elected. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the primary runoff system in Southern US states and its potential impact on Black voters, as well as its effectiveness in promoting consensus-building and preventing rule by cliques, but also its drawbacks such as increased costs and a proliferation of candidates. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reviewing the Runoff System", July 15, 1983
Date Created
1983-07-15
Description
The article discusses the primary runoff system in Southern US states and its potential impact on Black voters, as well as its effectiveness in promoting consensus-building and preventing rule by cliques, but also its drawbacks such as increased costs and a proliferation of candidates. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Voter Education Project projects a 14% increase among voting age Blacks in 11 southern states by November 1984, citing a diversity of factors such as deteriorating economic conditions, unemployment, and recent political victories, with the potential for up to 3 million Black votes in the 1984 presidential election. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, June 29, 1983
Date Created
1983--06-29
Description
The Voter Education Project projects a 14% increase among voting age Blacks in 11 southern states by November 1984, citing a diversity of factors such as deteriorating economic conditions, unemployment, and recent political victories, with the potential for up to 3 million Black votes in the 1984 presidential election. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project The Voter Education Project (VEP) reporting that the number of voting-age Blacks in the 11 southern states was projected to increase by 14% in 1984. VEP Executive Director Geraldine Thompson said that this increase was due to a variety of factors, including the controversy of a Black presidential candidate, the economic conditions, and the recent victories of Harold Washington and Wilson Goode. VEP Research Director Richard Hudlin said that if financial and organizational support continued for organizations like VEP, there could be nearly five million Black registrants in the region by November 1984. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, June 29, 1983
Date Created
1983-06-29
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project The Voter Education Project (VEP) reporting that the number of voting-age Blacks in the 11 southern states was projected to increase by 14% in 1984. VEP Executive Director Geraldine Thompson said that this increase was due to a variety of factors, including the controversy of a Black presidential candidate, the economic conditions, and the recent victories of Harold Washington and Wilson Goode. VEP Research Director Richard Hudlin said that if financial and organizational support continued for organizations like VEP, there could be nearly five million Black registrants in the region by November 1984. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter drive by NAACP set here", "Political coalition gearing up for Black voter registration drive", "Take the British system of political races, please", June 15, 1983 news clippings, and "Despite differences, Jews and Blacks still allies". 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Drive by NAACP Set Here", June 15, 1983
Date Created
1983-06-15
Description
"Voter drive by NAACP set here", "Political coalition gearing up for Black voter registration drive", "Take the British system of political races, please", June 15, 1983 news clippings, and "Despite differences, Jews and Blacks still allies". 4 pages.
Subject
Groups and organizations, African Americans--Civil rights, Political campaigns, Political participation, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article from Black Enterprise on how Black Mayors are revitalizing cities and towns. Mayors discussed are Andrew Young, Coleman Yound, and Johnny Ford, accompanied by a full list around the country. 8 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Taking Over City Hall", June 1983
Date Created
1983-06
Description
Article from Black Enterprise on how Black Mayors are revitalizing cities and towns. Mayors discussed are Andrew Young, Coleman Yound, and Johnny Ford, accompanied by a full list around the country. 8 pages.
Subject
African American business enterprises, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
In 1983, W. Wilson Goode became Philadelphia's first Black Democratic nominee for mayor, winning by a small margin and receiving over 90% of the Black vote, although race was not a prominent theme in any candidate's public statements; Goode's victory resulted from a mobilization of the Black community in the form of registration campaigns and turn-out-the-vote drives which paralleled the Harold Washington race in Chicago, and he will run against two White candidates in the November general election. 4 Pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Philadelphia Democrats Nominate First Black Mayor W. Wilson Goode", May 23, 1983
Date Created
1983--05-23
Description
In 1983, W. Wilson Goode became Philadelphia's first Black Democratic nominee for mayor, winning by a small margin and receiving over 90% of the Black vote, although race was not a prominent theme in any candidate's public statements; Goode's victory resulted from a mobilization of the Black community in the form of registration campaigns and turn-out-the-vote drives which paralleled the Harold Washington race in Chicago, and he will run against two White candidates in the November general election. 4 Pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records