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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  • Subjects = African American mayors
  • Subjects = Voter registration
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing a coalition of human rights and civil rights organizations', along with Mayor Maynard Jackson, calls for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Their proposed measure would extend the Act through 1992 and provide a new way for jurisdictions covered by the Act to "bail-out." The coalition urged citizens to contact their Congresspersons and encourage them to support the measure. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, September 17, 1981
Date Created
1981-09-17
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing a coalition of human rights and civil rights organizations', along with Mayor Maynard Jackson, calls for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Their proposed measure would extend the Act through 1992 and provide a new way for jurisdictions covered by the Act to "bail-out." The coalition urged citizens to contact their Congresspersons and encourage them to support the measure. 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and Voter Education Project (VEP) Director John R. Lewis's plans to run for Congress. Jackson's top political advisor urged him not to run, but Jackson had not made an official decision yet. Lewis also had not made a decision, but he was encouraged by many people to run. State Rep. Mildred Glover was also expected to enter the race. She stated earlier that she did not want to run against Jackson, but she had since changed her mind. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jackson Adviser Urges He Not Run for House", December 18, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-18
Description
Newspaper article describing Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and Voter Education Project (VEP) Director John R. Lewis's plans to run for Congress. Jackson's top political advisor urged him not to run, but Jackson had not made an official decision yet. Lewis also had not made a decision, but he was encouraged by many people to run. State Rep. Mildred Glover was also expected to enter the race. She stated earlier that she did not want to run against Jackson, but she had since changed her mind. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African American mayors
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
Newspaper article describing Mayor Maynard Jackson of Atlanta criticism of U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge for opposing the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Jackson stated that the act was still needed to protect the right to vote for black people in Georgia. Jackson said that Talmadge was "ignorant" of the facts when he claimed that Black people enjoyed universal voter registration rights. He pointed to the fact that there were continuing violations of the Voting Rights Act in Georgia. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jackson Assails Talmadge Stand", July 16, 1975
Date Created
1975-07-16
Description
Newspaper article describing Mayor Maynard Jackson of Atlanta criticism of U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge for opposing the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Jackson stated that the act was still needed to protect the right to vote for black people in Georgia. Jackson said that Talmadge was "ignorant" of the facts when he claimed that Black people enjoyed universal voter registration rights. He pointed to the fact that there were continuing violations of the Voting Rights Act in Georgia. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records