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.
19 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = Political science
  • Decade = 1970-1979
Article on the 1976 election, and how the VEP made spot-checks of predominantly Black precincts in each of the 11 southern states and determined that, on average, between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Blacks turned out to vote, with over 95 percent estimated to have voted for Jimmy Carter for President. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Expert Says Voting Rights Denied Eleven Years Marked Victory", November 13, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-13
Description
Article on the 1976 election, and how the VEP made spot-checks of predominantly Black precincts in each of the 11 southern states and determined that, on average, between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Blacks turned out to vote, with over 95 percent estimated to have voted for Jimmy Carter for President. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on a group of combat veterans, who were formerly foot-soldiers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, gathered to relive the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and talked about the early days of the organization and their struggles, and reflected on their current involvement in good causes, such as elected politics, labor organizing, community projects, and health care. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Combat Veterans Relive Civil Rights Campaigns", November 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-10
Description
Article on a group of combat veterans, who were formerly foot-soldiers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, gathered to relive the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and talked about the early days of the organization and their struggles, and reflected on their current involvement in good causes, such as elected politics, labor organizing, community projects, and health care. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article arguing that Jimmy Carter did not bring back the old Democratic South, but instead won the support of Black and moderate White voters who were previously disenfranchised, and that this demographic shift may lead to a shedding of conservatism in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Lost the Confederacy but Captured the New South", November 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-10
Description
Article arguing that Jimmy Carter did not bring back the old Democratic South, but instead won the support of Black and moderate White voters who were previously disenfranchised, and that this demographic shift may lead to a shedding of conservatism in the South. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The VEP launched a voter mobilization tour which aimed to visit all 11 southern states before election day, and featured a combination of voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, with a focus on educating and motivating nonparticipating segments of society to take an active role in selecting government leaders and having a voice in decisions affecting collective lives. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Education Project on Voter Mobilization Tour", September 19, 1976
Date Created
1976-09-19
Description
The VEP launched a voter mobilization tour which aimed to visit all 11 southern states before election day, and featured a combination of voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, with a focus on educating and motivating nonparticipating segments of society to take an active role in selecting government leaders and having a voice in decisions affecting collective lives. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, 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
Article on the status of the proposed presidential debates between Jimmy Carter and President Ford. Carter speaks on the need for the president to have closer control over the Federal Reserve Board, while Ford meets with his Cabinet and Carter campaigns for votes. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ford, Carter Clash on Proposed Debates", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Article on the status of the proposed presidential debates between Jimmy Carter and President Ford. Carter speaks on the need for the president to have closer control over the Federal Reserve Board, while Ford meets with his Cabinet and Carter campaigns for votes. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article about negotiators for President Ford and Jimmy Carter tentatively settling on three nationally televised campaign debates beginning the third week in September 1976. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Debates Get Tentative Agreement", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Article about negotiators for President Ford and Jimmy Carter tentatively settling on three nationally televised campaign debates beginning the third week in September 1976. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the upcoming presidential debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, as well as the potential problems that may arise, including financing issues and opposition from other presidential candidates. It also touches on the candidates' campaign strategies and their views on various issues, including Medicaid fraud and foreign policy. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"No Agreement on Debates", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
The article discusses the upcoming presidential debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, as well as the potential problems that may arise, including financing issues and opposition from other presidential candidates. It also touches on the candidates' campaign strategies and their views on various issues, including Medicaid fraud and foreign policy. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article about the Federal Election Commission authorizing the League of Women Voters to sponsor and raise money for the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, with the remaining question being the role of independent candidates like Lester Maddox and Eugene McCarthy. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ford, Carter, Debated Details Pondered", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Article about the Federal Election Commission authorizing the League of Women Voters to sponsor and raise money for the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, with the remaining question being the role of independent candidates like Lester Maddox and Eugene McCarthy. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A coalition of labor and civil rights groups called the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation has launched Operation Big Vote, a bipartisan registration drive aimed at registering millions of Black voters who have never voted before, with Democrats Jimmy Carter and Walter F. Mondale likely to be the major beneficiaries of any increase in Black voter participation. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Drive to Register Blacks is Opened", August 25, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-25
Description
A coalition of labor and civil rights groups called the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation has launched Operation Big Vote, a bipartisan registration drive aimed at registering millions of Black voters who have never voted before, with Democrats Jimmy Carter and Walter F. Mondale likely to be the major beneficiaries of any increase in Black voter participation. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, Labor
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John Lewis, Executive Director of the Atlanta-based Voter Education Project, displays Proclamations from Governors of ten southern states designating July as �Voter registration Month�. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John Lewis, July 29, 1976
Date Created
1976-07-29
Description
John Lewis, Executive Director of the Atlanta-based Voter Education Project, displays Proclamations from Governors of ten southern states designating July as �Voter registration Month�. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Federal Regulations, with the objective of making the registration and voting process for language minority groups comparable to that of English speakers, and providing guidance on compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Department of Justice, Voting Rights Act Interim Guidelines Regarding Language Minority Groups, October 3, 197
Date Created
1975-10-03
Description
Federal Regulations, with the objective of making the registration and voting process for language minority groups comparable to that of English speakers, and providing guidance on compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. 6 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Editorial discussing the opposing views of Mayor Jackson and Senator Talmadge on extending the 1965 Voting Rights Act, with the former supporting its extension and the latter opposing it because it does not cover the entire nation, but ultimately recommends that the bill should be extended regardless of the Senator's proposed amendment. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Rights Act Still Needed", July 17, 1975
Date Created
1975-07-17
Description
Editorial discussing the opposing views of Mayor Jackson and Senator Talmadge on extending the 1965 Voting Rights Act, with the former supporting its extension and the latter opposing it because it does not cover the entire nation, but ultimately recommends that the bill should be extended regardless of the Senator's proposed amendment. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John Lewis testified before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, stating that the southern states had not complied with the Voting Rights Act, and permanent voting rights protection was needed, as citizenship education efforts had been hampered by noncompliance with the Act. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Permanent Voting Rights Protection Needed", April 1975
Date Created
1975-04
Description
John Lewis testified before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, stating that the southern states had not complied with the Voting Rights Act, and permanent voting rights protection was needed, as citizenship education efforts had been hampered by noncompliance with the Act. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Joint Center for Political Studies publication with articles on extending the Voting Rights Act and urban homesteading. 16 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Focus: The New Frontier in Our Cities, Vol. 3, No. 1, November 1974
Date Created
1974-11
Description
Joint Center for Political Studies publication with articles on extending the Voting Rights Act and urban homesteading. 16 pages.
Subject
Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Joint Center for Political Studies publication with articles on the Voting Rights Act of 1975. 8 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Focus: Voting Rights Act of 1975, Vol. 2, No. 7, May 1974
Date Created
1974-05
Description
Joint Center for Political Studies publication with articles on the Voting Rights Act of 1975. 8 pages.
Subject
Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
This publication is issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights as part of its clearinghouse function. It discusses the coverage, administration, and other subjects covered by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970. 29 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Summary and Text: The Voting Rights Act, September 1971
Date Created
1971-09
Description
This publication is issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights as part of its clearinghouse function. It discusses the coverage, administration, and other subjects covered by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970. 29 pages.
Subject
Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A report of news and events around the U.S. and the world. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Washington Report, Vol. 10, No. 11, March 16, 1970
Date Created
1970--03-16
Description
A report of news and events around the U.S. and the world. 4 pages.
Subject
Voting, Special events, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Suggestions on how to make the voting rights act more effective in getting Blacks registered and more equitable to southern states who are willing to comply, report with statistics. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report on Effectiveness of Voting Rights Act, 1970
Date Created
1970
Description
Suggestions on how to make the voting rights act more effective in getting Blacks registered and more equitable to southern states who are willing to comply, report with statistics. 11 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records