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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Two newspaper clippings describing the results of the 1968 elections. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Legislators Rise from 23 to 30 in Dixie", circa 1969
Date Created
1964/1974
Description
Two newspaper clippings describing the results of the 1968 elections. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, Presidents, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from political analyst Nick Thimmesch regarding President Nixon's careful and deliberate approach to his first six months in office. Some critics seized on his minor mistakes as evidence that his administration was coming apart. Thimmesch also discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he regards as instrumental in registering black voters in the South, despite an uncertain future. The administration proposed a substitute plan that would rely more on local courts and broaden the scope to cover all states. However, seasoned voter-registration workers argued that this plan would not be as effective as the current law, and that it would disproportionately impact the South. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Eyes on the Presidency Press Release by Nick Thimmesch, July 8, 1969
Date Created
1969-07-08
Author
Nick Thimmesch
Description
Press release from political analyst Nick Thimmesch regarding President Nixon's careful and deliberate approach to his first six months in office. Some critics seized on his minor mistakes as evidence that his administration was coming apart. Thimmesch also discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he regards as instrumental in registering black voters in the South, despite an uncertain future. The administration proposed a substitute plan that would rely more on local courts and broaden the scope to cover all states. However, seasoned voter-registration workers argued that this plan would not be as effective as the current law, and that it would disproportionately impact the South. 3 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing President Ford's signing of a seven-year extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, despite warnings from some political advisers that it could harm his conservative image in the South. The legislation was passed by Congress over the objections of some Southern lawmakers, who argued that it was punitive and unfairly regional in scope. Ford's decision to sign the bill was praised by civil rights leaders, who said it was a victory for democracy. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ford in Publicity Glare For Voter Rights Signing", August 7, 1975
Date Created
1975-08-07
Description
Newspaper article describing President Ford's signing of a seven-year extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, despite warnings from some political advisers that it could harm his conservative image in the South. The legislation was passed by Congress over the objections of some Southern lawmakers, who argued that it was punitive and unfairly regional in scope. Ford's decision to sign the bill was praised by civil rights leaders, who said it was a victory for democracy. 1 page.
Subject
Presidents, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Table representing the 1976 Presidential Election results and estimated voter participation in the Southern States, including information regarding total votes cast estimated Black registration, and estimated Black voter turnout. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Table of 1976 Presidential Election Results Estimated Voter Participation, 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
Table representing the 1976 Presidential Election results and estimated voter participation in the Southern States, including information regarding total votes cast estimated Black registration, and estimated Black voter turnout. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article featuring an interview with Jimmy Carter, where he outlined his foreign policy objectives for Africa. He stressed the need for a positive and creative U.S. role on the continent, and called for stronger sanctions against South Africa. He also said that the U.S. should not allow an African state's Middle East policy to become an excuse to terminate a productive relationship. The interview was part of a series that Africa Report was conducting with the presidential candidates on their views on Africa. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jimmy Carter on Africa", May-June 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
Newspaper article featuring an interview with Jimmy Carter, where he outlined his foreign policy objectives for Africa. He stressed the need for a positive and creative U.S. role on the continent, and called for stronger sanctions against South Africa. He also said that the U.S. should not allow an African state's Middle East policy to become an excuse to terminate a productive relationship. The interview was part of a series that Africa Report was conducting with the presidential candidates on their views on Africa. 2 pages.
Subject
International relations, Political campaigns, Presidents, Human rights, Africa
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the public mood in the bicentennial presidential election year as desiring the federal government to be run in a more humane fashion, and that voters preferred someone who had not been in the bureaucracy to be in charge. The article discusses three outsider candidates who stirred more interest than the candidates from Congress: Ronald Reagan, George Wallace, and Jimmy Carter. The article argues that Carter was the most appealing of these three candidates because he was not anti-government like Reagan and Wallace, and he was not just another warmed-over New Dealer like the liberal Democrats. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jimmy Carter: Fitting the Mood of the Voters", January 4, 1976
Date Created
1976-01-04
Description
Newspaper article regarding the public mood in the bicentennial presidential election year as desiring the federal government to be run in a more humane fashion, and that voters preferred someone who had not been in the bureaucracy to be in charge. The article discusses three outsider candidates who stirred more interest than the candidates from Congress: Ronald Reagan, George Wallace, and Jimmy Carter. The article argues that Carter was the most appealing of these three candidates because he was not anti-government like Reagan and Wallace, and he was not just another warmed-over New Dealer like the liberal Democrats. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding Jimmy Carter's, a Democratic candidate for President, calls for a voluntary moratorium on the purchase or sale of nuclear fuel enrichment and reprocessing plants. He believed that this would help to curb the spread of nuclear weapons. Carter took a number of other positions on the issues, including employment, inflation, monetary policy, tax reform, industry regulation, and energy. He generally tried to take positions that appealed to both sides of a controversy. Some people criticized Carter for not taking more bold positions on the issues. However, his supporters argued that he was simply trying to be pragmatic and to appeal to the widest possible range of voters. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Gives Plan For Nuclear Curb," May 13, 1976 NO RADAR INCOMPLETE
Date Created
1976-05-13
Description
Newspaper article regarding Jimmy Carter's, a Democratic candidate for President, calls for a voluntary moratorium on the purchase or sale of nuclear fuel enrichment and reprocessing plants. He believed that this would help to curb the spread of nuclear weapons. Carter took a number of other positions on the issues, including employment, inflation, monetary policy, tax reform, industry regulation, and energy. He generally tried to take positions that appealed to both sides of a controversy. Some people criticized Carter for not taking more bold positions on the issues. However, his supporters argued that he was simply trying to be pragmatic and to appeal to the widest possible range of voters. 2 pages.
Subject
International relations, Political campaigns, Presidents, Human rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing plans for Governor Jimmy Carter to speak at the Voter Education Project's annual fundraising dinner. Coretta Scott King also agreed to sell tickets to the event in support of work increase voter registration and turnout among African Americans. VEP was credited with helping to register millions of black voters since its founding in 1962. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Due to Talk Here", August 23, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-23
Description
Newspaper article discussing plans for Governor Jimmy Carter to speak at the Voter Education Project's annual fundraising dinner. Coretta Scott King also agreed to sell tickets to the event in support of work increase voter registration and turnout among African Americans. VEP was credited with helping to register millions of black voters since its founding in 1962. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Meetings, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing Senator Charles Mathias, Jr., Senator Edward Brooke, Senator Jacob Javits, George Meany, Coretta Scott King, Benjamin Mays, and Leonard Woodcock as chairpersons for the VEP's Third Annual Benefit Dinner, which was planned to benefit VEP's efforts to register and educate minority voters in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, August 25, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-25
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project announcing Senator Charles Mathias, Jr., Senator Edward Brooke, Senator Jacob Javits, George Meany, Coretta Scott King, Benjamin Mays, and Leonard Woodcock as chairpersons for the VEP's Third Annual Benefit Dinner, which was planned to benefit VEP's efforts to register and educate minority voters in the South. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing plans for Governor Jimmy Carter to speak at the Voter Education Project's annual fundraising dinner. Proceeds from the event were to be used to support efforts to register more than three and a half million people of voting age in the South who were not yet registered. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter To Address VEP Benefit Banquet", August 25, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-25
Description
Newspaper article discussing plans for Governor Jimmy Carter to speak at the Voter Education Project's annual fundraising dinner. Proceeds from the event were to be used to support efforts to register more than three and a half million people of voting age in the South who were not yet registered. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Meetings, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article announcing former Governor Jimmy Carter as the keynote speaker for The Voter Education Project (VEP) Third Annual Benefit Dinner. Proceeds from the Dinner were used to support the VEP's efforts to register more than three and a half million people of voting age in the South who were not already registered. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Will Speak At VEP Benefit", August 29, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-29
Description
Newspaper article announcing former Governor Jimmy Carter as the keynote speaker for The Voter Education Project (VEP) Third Annual Benefit Dinner. Proceeds from the Dinner were used to support the VEP's efforts to register more than three and a half million people of voting age in the South who were not already registered. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Meetings, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding Jimmy Carter's criticism of President Ford for being "timid, fearful and afraid to lead". He accused Ford of neglecting to mention his leadership record as President and of failing to address important issues such as trust, embarrassment, and shame. Carter also criticized the government's handling of the Medicaid program, which he said lost $4 billion a year through fraud, deficient patient care, maladministration, and the issuance of benefits to ineligible persons. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Attacks Ford's Ability to Lead", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Newspaper article regarding Jimmy Carter's criticism of President Ford for being "timid, fearful and afraid to lead". He accused Ford of neglecting to mention his leadership record as President and of failing to address important issues such as trust, embarrassment, and shame. Carter also criticized the government's handling of the Medicaid program, which he said lost $4 billion a year through fraud, deficient patient care, maladministration, and the issuance of benefits to ineligible persons. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the uncertain status of the 1976 presidential debates. While Jimmy Carter asserted that plans for the televised confrontations were nearly set, but a spokesman for President Ford stated that no agreement was in sight. The proposed debates were to be a series of three debates, each lasting an hour and 15 minutes, beginning the third week in September. Despite the lack of an agreement, both campaigns prepared for the debates. Carter said that he preferred a format that allowed questioning on a wide variety of subjects, while Ford wanted questions limited in each debate to a specific issue. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Presidential Debates Debatable", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Newspaper article regarding the uncertain status of the 1976 presidential debates. While Jimmy Carter asserted that plans for the televised confrontations were nearly set, but a spokesman for President Ford stated that no agreement was in sight. The proposed debates were to be a series of three debates, each lasting an hour and 15 minutes, beginning the third week in September. Despite the lack of an agreement, both campaigns prepared for the debates. Carter said that he preferred a format that allowed questioning on a wide variety of subjects, while Ford wanted questions limited in each debate to a specific issue. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper photo of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter with Martin Luther King Sr. prior to addressing members of the Voter Education Project in regards to an automatic voter registration bill. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Democratic Presidential Candidate Jimmy Carter with Rev. Martin Luther King Sr., August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Newspaper photo of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter with Martin Luther King Sr. prior to addressing members of the Voter Education Project in regards to an automatic voter registration bill. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper printed photo of John R. Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Gail Fisher, televison actress, Coretta Scott-King, widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jimmy Carter, former Georgia Governor and 1976 Democratic nominee for President, at the VEP's Third Annual Benefit Dinner. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Jimmy Carter with John Lewis and Coretta Scott-King, September 2, 1976
Date Created
1976-09-02
Description
Newspaper printed photo of John R. Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Gail Fisher, televison actress, Coretta Scott-King, widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jimmy Carter, former Georgia Governor and 1976 Democratic nominee for President, at the VEP's Third Annual Benefit Dinner. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Democratic Party's hopes that minority voters would turn out in large numbers to help Jimmy Carter win the election. However, there was a decline in Black voter participation in previous years. The Carter campaign worked hard to register and get out the vote among minority voters, but success was not guaranteed. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Democrats Spur Minority Turnout As Presidency Key", October 27, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-27
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Democratic Party's hopes that minority voters would turn out in large numbers to help Jimmy Carter win the election. However, there was a decline in Black voter participation in previous years. The Carter campaign worked hard to register and get out the vote among minority voters, but success was not guaranteed. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondate campaign envelope addressed to John R. Lewis during the 1976 Presidential Campaign. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Jimmy Carter Campaign Envelope Adressed to John R. Lewis, October 28, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-28
Description
Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondate campaign envelope addressed to John R. Lewis during the 1976 Presidential Campaign. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Voter Education Project's predictions that a record number of Black voters would cast ballots in the 1976 presidential election. VEP's prediction was based on reports of record Black voter registration in local drives conducted by the organization. VEP mounted advertising campaigns and more than 100 local drives to encourage voter registration and participation. The organization believed that the Black vote would be pivotal in the presidential election, as well as in hundreds of state and local elections. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Record Black Voter Turnout Seen In South", October 29, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-29
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Voter Education Project's predictions that a record number of Black voters would cast ballots in the 1976 presidential election. VEP's prediction was based on reports of record Black voter registration in local drives conducted by the organization. VEP mounted advertising campaigns and more than 100 local drives to encourage voter registration and participation. The organization believed that the Black vote would be pivotal in the presidential election, as well as in hundreds of state and local elections. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the rapid increase of Black voter registration and turnout, fueled by a tour of Black leaders. The tour, which included the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, was credited with dampening apathy among Black voters. The leaders urged Blacks to register and vote, arguing that their votes could be decisive in key cities such as Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. While it was too early to say how the increased voter registration would translate into votes, the leaders were hopeful that Blacks will turn out in large numbers on Election Day. They believed that the Black vote could be the difference between victory and defeat for Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Are Pleased By Election Effort", October 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-31
Description
Newspaper article regarding the rapid increase of Black voter registration and turnout, fueled by a tour of Black leaders. The tour, which included the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, was credited with dampening apathy among Black voters. The leaders urged Blacks to register and vote, arguing that their votes could be decisive in key cities such as Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. While it was too early to say how the increased voter registration would translate into votes, the leaders were hopeful that Blacks will turn out in large numbers on Election Day. They believed that the Black vote could be the difference between victory and defeat for Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Flyer for a "Get Out the Vote" Peanut Roast and Rally held before the 1976 Presidential Election, featuring guests like Congressman Andrew Young, Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller, and Mayor Maynard Jackson, held on November 1, 1976 in Central City Park. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Get Out the Vote Peanut Roast" Flyer, November 1, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-01
Description
Flyer for a "Get Out the Vote" Peanut Roast and Rally held before the 1976 Presidential Election, featuring guests like Congressman Andrew Young, Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller, and Mayor Maynard Jackson, held on November 1, 1976 in Central City Park. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records