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 women
  • Subjects = African American civil rights workers
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
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
The Federal Election Commission authorized the League of Women Voters to sponsor the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, which are expected to cost $150,000 each and start about the third week in September, but there remains a question regarding the role of independent candidates like conservative Lister Maddox and liberal Eugene McCarthy, who have indicated they will go to court if necessary to force the networks to give them equal time with the two major candidates. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Women Voters to Sponsor Debates", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
The Federal Election Commission authorized the League of Women Voters to sponsor the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, which are expected to cost $150,000 each and start about the third week in September, but there remains a question regarding the role of independent candidates like conservative Lister Maddox and liberal Eugene McCarthy, who have indicated they will go to court if necessary to force the networks to give them equal time with the two major candidates. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records