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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Estimate of Black and of total participation in the November, 1980 Presidential election in eleven southern states, table with state and voter information. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Southern States Overall Voter Estimate Chart, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Estimate of Black and of total participation in the November, 1980 Presidential election in eleven southern states, table with state and voter information. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Estimated Voter Registration in the South as of November 1980 with counts by state. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Estimated Voter Registration in the South, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Estimated Voter Registration in the South as of November 1980 with counts by state. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Chart of Black elected officials as of December, 1980 in selected offices of eleven southern states. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black Elected Officials as of December, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Chart of Black elected officials as of December, 1980 in selected offices of eleven southern states. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Poster encouraging women to vote. Sponsored by the Women's Vote Project of the VEP.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Women's Vote Project" Poster, circa 1984
Date Created
1979/1989
Description
Poster encouraging women to vote. Sponsored by the Women's Vote Project of the VEP.
Subject
Voting, Voter Registration, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones ooking through paperwork.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones, Septempber 1979
Date Created
1979-09
Description
Vivian Malone Jones ooking through paperwork.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A written history of the Voter Education Project and it's beginnings.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"History of VEP," January 1979
Date Created
1979-01
Description
A written history of the Voter Education Project and it's beginnings.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP booklet of the concise history of the VEP from 1962 to 1979 with an excerpt from an unpublished study, "Historical Overview of Race and Class In Southern Politics."
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"History of the Voter Education Project and Race and Class in Southern Politics" Booklet, 1979
Date Created
1979
Description
VEP booklet of the concise history of the VEP from 1962 to 1979 with an excerpt from an unpublished study, "Historical Overview of Race and Class In Southern Politics."
Subject
Voting, Voter Registration, Suffrage
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report on the VEP being dedicated to promoting participatory democracy among minorities in the southern states, where historical discrimination has excluded Blacks and Chicanos from government processes, and seeks to increase minority political participation through various means such as voter registration, advocacy, research, and public support, despite facing challenges from those in power who view it as a threat to the status quo, and aims to eliminate barriers to minority political power through persistent organizing efforts and financial resources, with the ultimate goal of achieving unrestricted minority political participation for the benefit of future generations. 22 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Barriers to Minority Political Progress in the South" by Archie E. Allen, circa 1981
Date Created
1978/1984
Description
Report on the VEP being dedicated to promoting participatory democracy among minorities in the southern states, where historical discrimination has excluded Blacks and Chicanos from government processes, and seeks to increase minority political participation through various means such as voter registration, advocacy, research, and public support, despite facing challenges from those in power who view it as a threat to the status quo, and aims to eliminate barriers to minority political power through persistent organizing efforts and financial resources, with the ultimate goal of achieving unrestricted minority political participation for the benefit of future generations. 22 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article argues that the relationship between Black voters and the Democratic Party needs to be renegotiated, with power and responsibility shared fully, and suggests that running a Black presidential candidate in 1984 could force Democrats to appreciate the potential positive contribution of the Black vote to party politics and the nation, as well as to build a new progressive coalition that includes Hispanics, women, young people, poor Whites, and Native Americans. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Hey, You Democrats, We'll All Benefit if a Black Runs for President", by Jesse L. Jackson, circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
The article argues that the relationship between Black voters and the Democratic Party needs to be renegotiated, with power and responsibility shared fully, and suggests that running a Black presidential candidate in 1984 could force Democrats to appreciate the potential positive contribution of the Black vote to party politics and the nation, as well as to build a new progressive coalition that includes Hispanics, women, young people, poor Whites, and Native Americans. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Suffrage, Race relations, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the Voter Education Project plans to challenge Georgia's system of one-man county governments in 24 out of the state�s 159 counties through meetings with local government officials to discuss adding more members to their commissions, with the possibility of filing a federal lawsuit. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"One Man County Rule Under Fire", circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
Article on how the Voter Education Project plans to challenge Georgia's system of one-man county governments in 24 out of the state�s 159 counties through meetings with local government officials to discuss adding more members to their commissions, with the possibility of filing a federal lawsuit. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Alabama Secretary of State Don Siegelman expressed distress over the appointment of Ku Klux Klansman Billy Hendrix as a deputy voter registrar in Randolph County, which has historically been known for not appointing Black deputy registrars, but acknowledged that there is no state law to prevent such appointments. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Klansman's Job Irks Siegelman", circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
Alabama Secretary of State Don Siegelman expressed distress over the appointment of Ku Klux Klansman Billy Hendrix as a deputy voter registrar in Randolph County, which has historically been known for not appointing Black deputy registrars, but acknowledged that there is no state law to prevent such appointments. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Speech given at a rally in Richmond, Virginia by Vivian M. Jones regarding the VEP.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Speech From Richmond, Virginia Rally, October 28, 1977
Date Created
1977-10-28
Description
Speech given at a rally in Richmond, Virginia by Vivian M. Jones regarding the VEP.
Subject
Speeches, African American civic leaders, Voting, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Speech delivered to the Hungry Club Forum of Atlanta by Vivian M. Jones regarding the VEP.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Speech Delivered to the Hungry Club Forum, October 19, 1977
Date Created
1977-10-19
Description
Speech delivered to the Hungry Club Forum of Atlanta by Vivian M. Jones regarding the VEP.
Subject
Speeches, African American civic leaders, Voting, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter mobilization rally promoting speaker Vivian Malone Jones. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Hear Vivian Malone Jones, VEP Executive Director", 1977
Date Created
1977
Description
Voter mobilization rally promoting speaker Vivian Malone Jones. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The 1976 southern Black vote, with record numbers of registered Black voters turning out to vote, was the most significant exercise of minority political power in the century, as evidenced by President-elect Jimmy Carter's margins of victory in the South and the victory of several congressional candidates, according to the VEP which conducted a year-long registration drive and mounted advertising campaigns and local drives to encourage voter participation. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Education Projects Report on Voting by Blacks", November 27, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-27
Description
The 1976 southern Black vote, with record numbers of registered Black voters turning out to vote, was the most significant exercise of minority political power in the century, as evidenced by President-elect Jimmy Carter's margins of victory in the South and the victory of several congressional candidates, according to the VEP which conducted a year-long registration drive and mounted advertising campaigns and local drives to encourage voter participation. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the overwhelming turnout of Black voters helped Jimmy Carter win in the 1976 presidential election, posing a critical problem for the emerging GOP as it threatened the steady gains Republicans had made in the South, and some Republicans believed that the vote in their states was close enough to mean the GOP had not ceded the Solid South back to the Democrats. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Politicians Find Black Voters Put Carter Over in Dixie", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Article on how the overwhelming turnout of Black voters helped Jimmy Carter win in the 1976 presidential election, posing a critical problem for the emerging GOP as it threatened the steady gains Republicans had made in the South, and some Republicans believed that the vote in their states was close enough to mean the GOP had not ceded the Solid South back to the Democrats. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black voters in the Southern states played a significant role in securing the victory of President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, according to a post-election survey conducted by the Voter Education Project, with an estimated 60-70% Black turnout and 95% of the Black vote going to Carter, marking the largest Black vote in the century. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Give Carter Margin of Victory", November 8, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-08
Description
Black voters in the Southern states played a significant role in securing the victory of President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, according to a post-election survey conducted by the Voter Education Project, with an estimated 60-70% Black turnout and 95% of the Black vote going to Carter, marking the largest Black vote in the century. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the VEP's year long registration drive and record Black turnout resulted in President-elect Jimmy Carter's victory in the South and several congressional candidates, with a post-election survey showing the Black turnout in 11 Southern states was 60 to 70 per cent and 95 per cent of the Black vote believed to have gone to Carter. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Record Vote by Blacks Aided Carter", November 8, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-08
Description
Article on how the VEP's year long registration drive and record Black turnout resulted in President-elect Jimmy Carter's victory in the South and several congressional candidates, with a post-election survey showing the Black turnout in 11 Southern states was 60 to 70 per cent and 95 per cent of the Black vote believed to have gone to Carter. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on VEP head John Lewis reported that Black voters in 11 Southern states turned out at a rate of 60 to 70 per cent and provided the decisive margin of victory for President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, marking the most significant exercise of minority political power of the century. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Gave Carter Victory in South", November 8, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-08
Description
Article on VEP head John Lewis reported that Black voters in 11 Southern states turned out at a rate of 60 to 70 per cent and provided the decisive margin of victory for President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, marking the most significant exercise of minority political power of the century. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release stating that in the 1976 US Presidential election, the southern Black vote was a decisive and influential exercise of minority political power, providing President-elect Jimmy Carter with the margin of victory across the South, with the exception of Virginia, and electing numerous Black candidates to local and state offices. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black Voter Turnout for Jimmy Carter Presidential Race, November 7, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-07
Description
Press release stating that in the 1976 US Presidential election, the southern Black vote was a decisive and influential exercise of minority political power, providing President-elect Jimmy Carter with the margin of victory across the South, with the exception of Virginia, and electing numerous Black candidates to local and state offices. 4 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records