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.

For:
  • Decade = 1970-1990
Newspaper article regarding the Neighborhood Voters League accusations that the City of College Park was "dragging its feet" in the filing of a new ward redistricting plan to the Justice Department. The city was ordered to redraw voting wards and hold new city elections as soon as possible in 1977 by a federal court ruling in December. The Neighborhood Voters League was concerned that the city was not submitting the plan in time for an election to be held in 1977. They were also concerned that the plan would not adequately represent apartment residents. 1 page.
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
Handbook compiled by the Joint Center for Political Studies, Voter Education Project, and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law providing guidance on how to use Section 5 of the Act to further Black political participation. Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation that has helped to increase Black political participation in the United States. The Act was successful in registering and electing more Black officials, but there were still political and economic obstacles that remained. 111 pages.