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.
4 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Decade = 1980-1989
  • Subjects = African American neighborhoods
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding an analysis of the mayoralty and councilmanic elections in College Park, Georgia. The analysis found that there were numerous obstacles to full and fair Black political participation in College Park, including the election date, the location of the polls, and the way registration lists and registration data were maintained. The analysis also found that Blacks were more likely to be purged from the voter rolls than whites. VEP Executive Director Gerri Thompson said that the obstacles in College Park were typical of cities and other jurisdictions throughout the South where Blacks struggled for a fair share of political power. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 22, 1985
Date Created
1985-05-22
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding an analysis of the mayoralty and councilmanic elections in College Park, Georgia. The analysis found that there were numerous obstacles to full and fair Black political participation in College Park, including the election date, the location of the polls, and the way registration lists and registration data were maintained. The analysis also found that Blacks were more likely to be purged from the voter rolls than whites. VEP Executive Director Gerri Thompson said that the obstacles in College Park were typical of cities and other jurisdictions throughout the South where Blacks struggled for a fair share of political power. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, Race discrimination, Gerrymandering, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing a 2.4 percent decrease in the number of Black majority counties in the South, featuring results from a study conducted by K. Farouk Brimah and Richard A. Hudl of the Voter Education Project. The study also showed that the 11 southern states had 284 majority Black counties in 1900 while at the time of the study there were only 89. The study also found that 40 of the 89 majority counties were experiencing declines in Black population. If the present rate of loss continued, additional counties would lose their Black majority by the end of the eighties. The study concluded that the decrease in the number of Black majority counties could have severe repercussions for Black political strength. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, December 1, 1981
Date Created
1981-12-01
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing a 2.4 percent decrease in the number of Black majority counties in the South, featuring results from a study conducted by K. Farouk Brimah and Richard A. Hudl of the Voter Education Project. The study also showed that the 11 southern states had 284 majority Black counties in 1900 while at the time of the study there were only 89. The study also found that 40 of the 89 majority counties were experiencing declines in Black population. If the present rate of loss continued, additional counties would lose their Black majority by the end of the eighties. The study concluded that the decrease in the number of Black majority counties could have severe repercussions for Black political strength. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing the victory of four white candidates in majority Black districts in the 1981 City of Atlanta municipal elections, featuring results from a study conducted by K. Farouk Brimah and Richard A. Hudl of the Voter Education Project. The study found that four white candidates won elections in majority Black districts, while all three elections in majority white districts were won by white candidates. The study also found that Andrew Young, the leading mayoral candidate, received 62% of the Black vote, but only 12% of the white vote. The four white mayoral candidates received 87% of the white vote and 11% of the Black vote. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, October 23, 1981
Date Created
1981-10-23
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing the victory of four white candidates in majority Black districts in the 1981 City of Atlanta municipal elections, featuring results from a study conducted by K. Farouk Brimah and Richard A. Hudl of the Voter Education Project. The study found that four white candidates won elections in majority Black districts, while all three elections in majority white districts were won by white candidates. The study also found that Andrew Young, the leading mayoral candidate, received 62% of the Black vote, but only 12% of the white vote. The four white mayoral candidates received 87% of the white vote and 11% of the Black vote. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, City planning, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a survey of Black school board members in 10 southern states, which found that although Blacks were underrepresented on school boards, they were instrumental in fighting racism in their school districts. The survey also found that Black school board members were concerned about the discriminatory treatment of Black teachers and students, and that the effort to desegregate schools caused major problems. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, April 10, 1981
Date Created
1981-04-10
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding a survey of Black school board members in 10 southern states, which found that although Blacks were underrepresented on school boards, they were instrumental in fighting racism in their school districts. The survey also found that Black school board members were concerned about the discriminatory treatment of Black teachers and students, and that the effort to desegregate schools caused major problems. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, African American neighborhoods, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records