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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Handbook used in the training of Fulton County Field Deputy Registrars, which includes information regarding Georgia election code rules and regulations, registration qualifications, and instructions for completing voter registration. 42 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Fulton County Field Deputy Registrar Instruction" Booklet, circa 1990
Date Created
1988/1992
Description
Handbook used in the training of Fulton County Field Deputy Registrars, which includes information regarding Georgia election code rules and regulations, registration qualifications, and instructions for completing voter registration. 42 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan and objections for the program in 1986. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of the VEP, With Plan for 1986
Date Created
1985/1988
Description
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan and objections for the program in 1986. 11 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reflections on the Selma March and Plans for the Future", March 8, 1985
Date Created
1985--03-08
Description
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Employee manual of the VEP describing organizational structure, employment, salaries, etc. 24 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Employee Manual, 1985
Date Created
1985
Description
Employee manual of the VEP describing organizational structure, employment, salaries, etc. 24 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Employment, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan, goals and budget for the program. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of the VEP with Budget Report, circa 1985
Date Created
1984/1987
Description
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan, goals and budget for the program. 11 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A Voter Education Project survey reported record numbers of Black voters registered in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with a 16 percent increase in Georgia since 1980, but despite this increase, there are still about 500,000 unregistered Black voters in Georgia, according to Charles McCant, the assistant director of field operations for the Atlanta-based VEP. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"State Drive Hikes Black Voters 16 Percent", November 13, 1984
Date Created
1984-11-13
Description
A Voter Education Project survey reported record numbers of Black voters registered in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with a 16 percent increase in Georgia since 1980, but despite this increase, there are still about 500,000 unregistered Black voters in Georgia, according to Charles McCant, the assistant director of field operations for the Atlanta-based VEP. 1 page.
Subject
Groups and organizations, Voter registration, African American civil rights workers, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP research department essay by Brian Sherman, Ph.D. and K. Farouk Brimah on the increase of participation in voting by the Black population in the South, listing states and percentages. 16 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Increase and Impact: Black Participation in Southern Electoral Politics During the First Half of 1984", July
Date Created
1984-07-25
Author
Sherman, Brian, Brimah, K. Farouk
Description
VEP research department essay by Brian Sherman, Ph.D. and K. Farouk Brimah on the increase of participation in voting by the Black population in the South, listing states and percentages. 16 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Atlanta-based Voter Education Project, led by Charles McCant, plans to challenge a county in federal court by January 14, 1984 in their effort to dismantle "one man governing boards" in Georgia that they deem undemocratic and Nazi-like, with a determination based on the Black voting age population in the targeted county and a focus on examining the racial composition of county boards of education during their tour of five counties from December 12-16. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"One Man County Boards Targeted for Lawsuit", December 8, 1983
Date Created
1983--12-08
Description
The Atlanta-based Voter Education Project, led by Charles McCant, plans to challenge a county in federal court by January 14, 1984 in their effort to dismantle "one man governing boards" in Georgia that they deem undemocratic and Nazi-like, with a determination based on the Black voting age population in the targeted county and a focus on examining the racial composition of county boards of education during their tour of five counties from December 12-16. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civil rights workers, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Voter Education Project is hosting a Contemporary Conference on Voting Rights Issues at Virginia Union College, which aims to increase Black voter registration and participation, examine the obstacles to achieving equal Black representation, and discuss strategies for elevating registration and increasing the level of sophistication and staying power of Black registered voters in the state of Virginia and the South. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, November 23, 1983
Date Created
1983--11-23
Description
The Voter Education Project is hosting a Contemporary Conference on Voting Rights Issues at Virginia Union College, which aims to increase Black voter registration and participation, examine the obstacles to achieving equal Black representation, and discuss strategies for elevating registration and increasing the level of sophistication and staying power of Black registered voters in the state of Virginia and the South. 4 pages.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Civil rights activist and Atlanta city councilman John Lewis received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award at the annual Voter Education Project banquet for his work in voter registration and education, and spoke optimistically about the progress towards a biracial democracy in the South, after having been beaten unconscious four times and jailed over 40 times for his civil rights and voter registration efforts. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"John Lewis Gets Award From VEP", October 28, 1983
Date Created
1983-10-28
Description
Civil rights activist and Atlanta city councilman John Lewis received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award at the annual Voter Education Project banquet for his work in voter registration and education, and spoke optimistically about the progress towards a biracial democracy in the South, after having been beaten unconscious four times and jailed over 40 times for his civil rights and voter registration efforts. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the VEP celebrating their 20th anniversary. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"VEP celebrates 20th Year Here October 21", October 19, 1982
Date Created
1982-10-19
Description
Article on the VEP celebrating their 20th anniversary. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the VEP taking a break to celebrate the voting rights act and their successes in increasing the Black vote in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Drive Changes the South", October 17, 1982
Date Created
1982-10-17
Description
Article on the VEP taking a break to celebrate the voting rights act and their successes in increasing the Black vote in the South. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Articles from "The Po' Folks Reporter" paper in Tifton, Georgia, covering news on the VEP, voting rights, and civil rights in Georgia. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Rights Conference Salted", March 1982
Date Created
1982-03
Description
Articles from "The Po' Folks Reporter" paper in Tifton, Georgia, covering news on the VEP, voting rights, and civil rights in Georgia. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reagan administration attacked as voting rights hearings begin", and "Stand on Voting Act and Civil Rights defended by Smith", articles on the pushback from Civil rights activists on possible extensions and changes in the voting rights act. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reagan Administration Attacked as Voting Rights Hearings Begin", January 28, 1982
Date Created
1982-01-28
Description
"Reagan administration attacked as voting rights hearings begin", and "Stand on Voting Act and Civil Rights defended by Smith", articles on the pushback from Civil rights activists on possible extensions and changes in the voting rights act. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on the VEP announcing the list of speakers and discussion leaders for VEP's Contemporary Voting Rights Conference, which will focus on the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization, redistricting, and reapportionment, featuring Julian Bond, Leslie Burl McLemore, Robert Walker, Gerald Jones, Victor McTeer, Frank Parker, Laughlin McDonald, and Henry Kirksey, among others. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Announcement of Speakers for the VEP's Contemporary Voting Rights Conference", September 29, 1981
Date Created
1981-09-29
Description
Press release on the VEP announcing the list of speakers and discussion leaders for VEP's Contemporary Voting Rights Conference, which will focus on the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization, redistricting, and reapportionment, featuring Julian Bond, Leslie Burl McLemore, Robert Walker, Gerald Jones, Victor McTeer, Frank Parker, Laughlin McDonald, and Henry Kirksey, among others. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on a coalition of civil rights organizations was joined by Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson in announcing support for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which would extend the Act through 1992 and provide a new way for jurisdictions covered by the Act to "bail-out" if they can prove they have not had discriminatory voting practices for the ten years before the bail-out suit. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Mayor Maynard Jackson Joins Civil Rights Orgs in Campaign To Extend Voting Rights Act", September 17, 1981
Date Created
1981-09-17
Description
Press release on a coalition of civil rights organizations was joined by Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson in announcing support for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which would extend the Act through 1992 and provide a new way for jurisdictions covered by the Act to "bail-out" if they can prove they have not had discriminatory voting practices for the ten years before the bail-out suit. 2 pages.
Subject
African American mayors, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on a rally planned by a coalition consisting of the VEP, NAACP, SCLC, and GABEO in support of the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which will feature prominent civil rights activists and political figures, including Congressman Walter Fauntroy, and highlights the importance of minority political participation in the political process. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Rights Act Rally at Piedmont Park", August 28, 1981
Date Created
1981-08-28
Description
Press release on a rally planned by a coalition consisting of the VEP, NAACP, SCLC, and GABEO in support of the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which will feature prominent civil rights activists and political figures, including Congressman Walter Fauntroy, and highlights the importance of minority political participation in the political process. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on Mrs. Geraldine G. Thompson, executive director of the VEP, testified before the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Judiciary Committee, calling the Voting Rights Act "the most effective civil rights legislation ever passed" and stating that the key provisions of the Act should be extended if minorities are to achieve full equality in the political system. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Thompson Speaks on Voting Rights Act", June 23, 1981
Date Created
1981-06-23
Description
Press release on Mrs. Geraldine G. Thompson, executive director of the VEP, testified before the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Judiciary Committee, calling the Voting Rights Act "the most effective civil rights legislation ever passed" and stating that the key provisions of the Act should be extended if minorities are to achieve full equality in the political system. 5 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on Geraldine G. Thompson being appointed as the Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Inc. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Appointment of Geraldine Thompson As the Executive Director of VEP", June 19, 1981
Date Created
1981-06-19
Description
Press release on Geraldine G. Thompson being appointed as the Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Inc. 6 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence with an article discussing how John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, has been instrumental in the progress of Black political participation in the South, citing evidence such as increased voter registration and elected officials, and how Black voters played a significant role in electing Jimmy Carter as President, highlighting Lewis's role as a symbol of progress from protest to political activism. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Passage, From Civil Rights to the Ballot Box", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Correspondence with an article discussing how John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, has been instrumental in the progress of Black political participation in the South, citing evidence such as increased voter registration and elected officials, and how Black voters played a significant role in electing Jimmy Carter as President, highlighting Lewis's role as a symbol of progress from protest to political activism. 3 pages.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Protest movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records