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.
247 Objects displayed
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Decade = 1980-1989
The Voter Education Project urges people to attend their statewide Voting Rights Conference at Southern University to address the low voter turnout of Black registered voters in Louisiana, where only 143,000 of 850,000 eligible Black voters voted in the 1982 elections. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Public Service Announcement, 1983
Date Created
1905--06-05
Description
The Voter Education Project urges people to attend their statewide Voting Rights Conference at Southern University to address the low voter turnout of Black registered voters in Louisiana, where only 143,000 of 850,000 eligible Black voters voted in the 1982 elections. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Draft of press release on upcoming conference on Black colleges and universities. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"VEP Holds National Conference on Black Colleges and Universities", 1983
Date Created
1905--06-05
Description
Draft of press release on upcoming conference on Black colleges and universities. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American universities and colleges
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
"Bill Gray Will Headline the Twenty First Dinner of the Voter Education Project", 1983
Date Created
1905--06-05
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
A flyer encouraging people to vote in specific counties in southern states.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
100 Plus Project Flyer, circa 1980
Date Created
1975/1985
Description
A flyer encouraging people to vote in specific counties in southern states.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Portrait of Vivian Malone Jones. Written on recto: Vivian Malone Jones, Executive Director, Voter Education Project, INC.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones, circa 1980
Date Created
1975/1985
Description
Portrait of Vivian Malone Jones. Written on recto: Vivian Malone Jones, Executive Director, Voter Education Project, INC.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting
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
This article questions the level of commitment of Reverend Jesse Jackson and his organization, PUSH, to building a permanent, strong Black organization in South Carolina and achieving voting rights for Black people, citing the lack of action and follow-through on promises made by Jackson and his organization. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Is Jesse Jackson Serious About South Carolina, or Is It a Convention Hype?" by Jesse Taylor, circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
This article questions the level of commitment of Reverend Jesse Jackson and his organization, PUSH, to building a permanent, strong Black organization in South Carolina and achieving voting rights for Black people, citing the lack of action and follow-through on promises made by Jackson and his organization. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Groups and organizations, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The number of majority Black counties in the 11 southern states has been decreasing at a rate of 2.4 per year since 1900, with only 48 majority Black counties remaining in 1980; the greatest loss was seen in Georgia, which lost 47 counties, while North Carolina was the only state to have gained Black majority counties between 1970-1980. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Research Says Black Majority Counties Decline", circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
The number of majority Black counties in the 11 southern states has been decreasing at a rate of 2.4 per year since 1900, with only 48 majority Black counties remaining in 1980; the greatest loss was seen in Georgia, which lost 47 counties, while North Carolina was the only state to have gained Black majority counties between 1970-1980. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Social conditions, African Americans--Economic conditions
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The 5th District council race in Atlanta between incumbent Morris Finley and challenger Hosea Williams has been marked by accusations of improper tactics and mudslinging, with Williams relying on theatrics to win and Finley focusing on his record, while Williams paints him as a tool of the downtown business power structure and a slumlord, and the two face a runoff election after a laborious recount that failed to produce a winner. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Finley, Williams Go Through the Mill to Get to 5th District Runoff", by Katheryn Hayes, circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
The 5th District council race in Atlanta between incumbent Morris Finley and challenger Hosea Williams has been marked by accusations of improper tactics and mudslinging, with Williams relying on theatrics to win and Finley focusing on his record, while Williams paints him as a tool of the downtown business power structure and a slumlord, and the two face a runoff election after a laborious recount that failed to produce a winner. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Eight candidates, including Fulton County Commissioner Reginald Eaves, have qualified to run for mayor in the upcoming Atlanta election, with the qualifying period ending on Thursday, and the only poll that matters to the candidates is the one on Oct 6. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Eaves, 3 More Qualify in October Mayoral Election", by T. L. Wells, circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
Eight candidates, including Fulton County Commissioner Reginald Eaves, have qualified to run for mayor in the upcoming Atlanta election, with the qualifying period ending on Thursday, and the only poll that matters to the candidates is the one on Oct 6. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political campaigns
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
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
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
List, notes, and flowchart of VEP research projects for 1980-1981. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Major VEP Research Projects, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
List, notes, and flowchart of VEP research projects for 1980-1981. 3 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Number of registered voters by years, spreadsheet with county names and years, 1960-1980. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Number of Registered Voters by Years, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Number of registered voters by years, spreadsheet with county names and years, 1960-1980. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A study by the Voter Education Project found that Southern Blacks overwhelmingly voted for President Carter in the 1980 presidential election, with 92-97% of Black voters in 11 Southern states supporting him, although 2-6% of Black voters who supported Ronald Reagan were enough to provide the winning margin in two Southern states. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks in the South Voted 9 to 1 for Carter", 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
A study by the Voter Education Project found that Southern Blacks overwhelmingly voted for President Carter in the 1980 presidential election, with 92-97% of Black voters in 11 Southern states supporting him, although 2-6% of Black voters who supported Ronald Reagan were enough to provide the winning margin in two Southern states. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Chart of voting age estimates (in thousands) for eleven southern states for selected years from 1960-1980. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voting Age Estimates for Eleven Southern States, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Chart of voting age estimates (in thousands) for eleven southern states for selected years from 1960-1980. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Estimates of Black participation in the November 1980 presidential election for eleven Southern states. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Southern States Black Voter Estimate Chart, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Estimates of Black participation in the November 1980 presidential election for eleven Southern states. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
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