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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  • Decade = 1970-1979
  • Subjects = Political participation
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
Newspaper op-ed describing they ways in which Black voters in Wisconsin played a decisive role in Jimmy Carter's victory in the state. They turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Carter, helping him to win by a narrow margin. Becaused of this, Black leaders called on Carter to respond to their proposals, including more representation in government and a reversal of the Nixon-Ford neglect of Black communities. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Now It's Carter's Time to Help Blacks", November 16, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-16
Description
Newspaper op-ed describing they ways in which Black voters in Wisconsin played a decisive role in Jimmy Carter's victory in the state. They turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Carter, helping him to win by a narrow margin. Becaused of this, Black leaders called on Carter to respond to their proposals, including more representation in government and a reversal of the Nixon-Ford neglect of Black communities. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
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
Newspaper article describing the role played by the overwhelming turnout of Black voters in the 1976 presidential election in securing Jimmy Carter's victory in the South. Black voter turnout posed a critical problem for the Republican Party, which had previously made steady gains in the South since the 1950s. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Political Analysts Ponder Heavy Black Vote for Carter", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Newspaper article describing the role played by the overwhelming turnout of Black voters in the 1976 presidential election in securing Jimmy Carter's victory in the South. Black voter turnout posed a critical problem for the Republican Party, which had previously made steady gains in the South since the 1950s. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the possibility of President Jimmy Carter appointing two Black Cabinet members, with speculation on which positions they would fill and who the potential candidates are, while also touching on the expectations of the Black community for Carter's actions and leadership. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Cabinet Guesses", November 13, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-13
Description
The article discusses the possibility of President Jimmy Carter appointing two Black Cabinet members, with speculation on which positions they would fill and who the potential candidates are, while also touching on the expectations of the Black community for Carter's actions and leadership. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the 1976 election, and how the VEP made spot-checks of predominantly Black precincts in each of the 11 southern states and determined that, on average, between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Blacks turned out to vote, with over 95 percent estimated to have voted for Jimmy Carter for President. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Expert Says Voting Rights Denied Eleven Years Marked Victory", November 13, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-13
Description
Article on the 1976 election, and how the VEP made spot-checks of predominantly Black precincts in each of the 11 southern states and determined that, on average, between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Blacks turned out to vote, with over 95 percent estimated to have voted for Jimmy Carter for President. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on a group of combat veterans, who were formerly foot-soldiers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, gathered to relive the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and talked about the early days of the organization and their struggles, and reflected on their current involvement in good causes, such as elected politics, labor organizing, community projects, and health care. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Combat Veterans Relive Civil Rights Campaigns", November 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-10
Description
Article on a group of combat veterans, who were formerly foot-soldiers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, gathered to relive the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and talked about the early days of the organization and their struggles, and reflected on their current involvement in good causes, such as elected politics, labor organizing, community projects, and health care. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article arguing that Jimmy Carter did not bring back the old Democratic South, but instead won the support of Black and moderate White voters who were previously disenfranchised, and that this demographic shift may lead to a shedding of conservatism in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Lost the Confederacy but Captured the New South", November 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-10
Description
Article arguing that Jimmy Carter did not bring back the old Democratic South, but instead won the support of Black and moderate White voters who were previously disenfranchised, and that this demographic shift may lead to a shedding of conservatism in the South. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
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
Black laborers and domestic workers in the Deep South saw Jimmy Carter as their only hope for change, citing his promises for social programs and job opportunities reminiscent of previous Democratic administrations, and ultimately giving him over 95% of their vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Grin Over How We Got a President", November 7, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-07
Description
Black laborers and domestic workers in the Deep South saw Jimmy Carter as their only hope for change, citing his promises for social programs and job opportunities reminiscent of previous Democratic administrations, and ultimately giving him over 95% of their vote. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Social conditions
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black voters played a decisive role in the victory of President-elect Jimmy Carter and other congressional candidates in the South, with a post-election survey showing a 60-70% Black turnout in 11 Southern states and 95% of the Black vote going to Carter, according to John Lewis, executive director of the Voter Education Project. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Gave Margin, Survey Says", November 7, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-07
Description
Black voters played a decisive role in the victory of President-elect Jimmy Carter and other congressional candidates in the South, with a post-election survey showing a 60-70% Black turnout in 11 Southern states and 95% of the Black vote going to Carter, according to John Lewis, executive director of the Voter Education Project. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the Jimmy Carter administration is expected to appoint two Black Cabinet officers, with names including Andrew Young, Barbara Jordan, and Vernon Jordan, as Black political leaders seek to ensure that Blacks receive acceptable appointments and prioritize the passage of full employment legislation and postcard voter registration bill, with hopes for continued dialogues and moral leadership from Carter. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Which Blacks Will Emerge To Be in Carters Cabinet?", November 7, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-07
Description
Article on how the Jimmy Carter administration is expected to appoint two Black Cabinet officers, with names including Andrew Young, Barbara Jordan, and Vernon Jordan, as Black political leaders seek to ensure that Blacks receive acceptable appointments and prioritize the passage of full employment legislation and postcard voter registration bill, with hopes for continued dialogues and moral leadership from Carter. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the head of the VEP John Lewis, reporting that the largest Black vote of the century, resulting from a year-long registration drive and record Black turnout, gave President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates their margins of victory in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Voters Helped Carter Carry Dixie", November 7, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-07
Description
Article on the head of the VEP John Lewis, reporting that the largest Black vote of the century, resulting from a year-long registration drive and record Black turnout, gave President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates their margins of victory in the South. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
In the deep South, workers share stories of how they deceived their white employers and voted for President Carter, reflecting a historic and influential turnout of the Black vote that was seen as a chance for change and job opportunities in heavily Black, rural communities along the Mississippi-Alabama borders. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Southern Black Vote for Carter Ascribed To Hope for Employment", November 7, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-07
Description
In the deep South, workers share stories of how they deceived their white employers and voted for President Carter, reflecting a historic and influential turnout of the Black vote that was seen as a chance for change and job opportunities in heavily Black, rural communities along the Mississippi-Alabama borders. 1 page.
Subject
Labor, Political participation, African Americans--Social conditions
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
This article describes the influential role that Rep. Andrew Young and the "Black Atlanta Connection" played in securing Jimmy Carter's election as President of the United States, with prominent Georgians and other figures supporting Carter's campaign through their political power, personal integrity, and outreach efforts to African American communities. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Atlanta Connection Did Well", November 6, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-06
Description
This article describes the influential role that Rep. Andrew Young and the "Black Atlanta Connection" played in securing Jimmy Carter's election as President of the United States, with prominent Georgians and other figures supporting Carter's campaign through their political power, personal integrity, and outreach efforts to African American communities. 2 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African American civic leaders, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the election of Jimmy Carter to the presidency, with strong support from Black voters, was a surprise and represented a shift in the South's relationship with the rest of the nation, with many feeling a newfound sense of regional pride and an end to feelings of inferiority and exclusion. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carters Ironic Win Delights Southerners", November 6, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-06
Description
Article on the election of Jimmy Carter to the presidency, with strong support from Black voters, was a surprise and represented a shift in the South's relationship with the rest of the nation, with many feeling a newfound sense of regional pride and an end to feelings of inferiority and exclusion. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article concerning that with the election of Jimmy Carter to the presidency, with strong support from Black voters in the South due to the civil rights movement and federal laws, signaled a new era of regional pride and equality, as well as a shift towards blue-collar and lower-income voters. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Presidency From Deep South", November 6, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-06
Description
Article concerning that with the election of Jimmy Carter to the presidency, with strong support from Black voters in the South due to the civil rights movement and federal laws, signaled a new era of regional pride and equality, as well as a shift towards blue-collar and lower-income voters. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Social conditions
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records