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
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = Political science
  • Subjects = Political participation
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
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 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
A newspaper clipping of an article describing a move by the Georgia General Assembly to weaken a law which limited corporate influence on state government. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Corporate Influence Law is Weakened", October 27, 1969
Date Created
1969-10-27
Description
A newspaper clipping of an article describing a move by the Georgia General Assembly to weaken a law which limited corporate influence on state government. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political science, Political participation, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from political analyst Nick Thimmesch regarding President Nixon's careful and deliberate approach to his first six months in office. Some critics seized on his minor mistakes as evidence that his administration was coming apart. Thimmesch also discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he regards as instrumental in registering black voters in the South, despite an uncertain future. The administration proposed a substitute plan that would rely more on local courts and broaden the scope to cover all states. However, seasoned voter-registration workers argued that this plan would not be as effective as the current law, and that it would disproportionately impact the South. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Eyes on the Presidency Press Release by Nick Thimmesch, July 8, 1969
Date Created
1969-07-08
Author
Nick Thimmesch
Description
Press release from political analyst Nick Thimmesch regarding President Nixon's careful and deliberate approach to his first six months in office. Some critics seized on his minor mistakes as evidence that his administration was coming apart. Thimmesch also discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which he regards as instrumental in registering black voters in the South, despite an uncertain future. The administration proposed a substitute plan that would rely more on local courts and broaden the scope to cover all states. However, seasoned voter-registration workers argued that this plan would not be as effective as the current law, and that it would disproportionately impact the South. 3 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A note and two newspaper clippings regarding speakers Julian Bond, Horace Ward, and Bayard Rustin, at a two-day institute in Mississippi sponsored by the Southern Regional Council. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'Race Secondary' New Officials Told", December 17, 1967
Date Created
1967-12-17
Description
A note and two newspaper clippings regarding speakers Julian Bond, Horace Ward, and Bayard Rustin, at a two-day institute in Mississippi sponsored by the Southern Regional Council. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African American civic leaders, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper clipping regarding Governor George Wallace's unwillingness to reapportion the state legislature of Alabama. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Wallace Planning No Reapportionment", June 16, 1964
Date Created
1964-06-16
Description
Newspaper clipping regarding Governor George Wallace's unwillingness to reapportion the state legislature of Alabama. 1 page.
Subject
Political science, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing candidates in the November elections. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Brief News Alabama", May 17, 1964
Date Created
1964-05-17
Description
A newspaper clipping describing candidates in the November elections. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing the results from a state election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Wallace Slate Won 66 Counties", May 9, 1964
Date Created
1964-05-09
Description
A newspaper clipping describing the results from a state election. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping of a table showing vote totals for Montgomery County. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"How Montgomery County Voted in Tuesday's Democratic Primary, May 7, 1964
Date Created
1964-05-07
Description
A newspaper clipping of a table showing vote totals for Montgomery County. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping regarding election day. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ballot Day in Alabama", May 6, 1964
Date Created
1964-05-06
Description
A newspaper clipping regarding election day. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing the unpledged elector slate in Alabama. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Letdown for LBJ Expected Tuesday", May 3, 1964
Date Created
1964-05-03
Description
A newspaper clipping describing the unpledged elector slate in Alabama. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, Political science, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping of a flier advocating votes for pledged democratic electors. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Let's Be Realistic", April 26, 1964
Date Created
1964-04-26
Description
A newspaper clipping of a flier advocating votes for pledged democratic electors. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping regarding the unpledged Democratic elector slate in Alabama. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Unpledged Slate Waste of Ballot Rains States", April 1, 1964
Date Created
1964-04-01
Description
A newspaper clipping regarding the unpledged Democratic elector slate in Alabama. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records