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 = Presidents
  • Subjects = African American civic leaders
Press release from the Voter Education Project renouncing an assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan as a shocking act of violence that ought to be condemned by all people of good will. The statement called for a renewed dedication to working non-violently to bring about a climate of safety, equality in our society, and for the politics of violence to be stoppped. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, March 31, 1981
Date Created
1981-03-31
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project renouncing an assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan as a shocking act of violence that ought to be condemned by all people of good will. The statement called for a renewed dedication to working non-violently to bring about a climate of safety, equality in our society, and for the politics of violence to be stoppped. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, Presidents, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing Black leaders rallying in support of Vernon Jordan, who criticized the Carter administration's record on civil rights and social programs. Benjamin Hooks, executive director of the NAACP, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson also echoed Jordan's criticisms. Carter defended his record, but there were indications that a rift was developing between the White House and Black leaders. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Leaders Support Jordan Attack on Carter", July 27, 1977
Date Created
1977-07-27
Description
Newspaper article discussing Black leaders rallying in support of Vernon Jordan, who criticized the Carter administration's record on civil rights and social programs. Benjamin Hooks, executive director of the NAACP, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson also echoed Jordan's criticisms. Carter defended his record, but there were indications that a rift was developing between the White House and Black leaders. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper op-ed by Vernon E. Jordan, Executive Director of the National Urban League, describing the the ways in which the the Black vote was a decisive factor in the 1976 presidential election. Black voters turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Jimmy Carter. This helped Carter win several key states in the South, which ultimately gave him the victory. The high Black turnout was due in part to the efforts of non-partisan black organizations, such as the Joint Center for Political Studies, the Voter Education Project, and the NAACP. These organizations educated Black voters and encouraged them to register and vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Black Vote Elected Carter", November 20, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-20
Description
Newspaper op-ed by Vernon E. Jordan, Executive Director of the National Urban League, describing the the ways in which the the Black vote was a decisive factor in the 1976 presidential election. Black voters turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Jimmy Carter. This helped Carter win several key states in the South, which ultimately gave him the victory. The high Black turnout was due in part to the efforts of non-partisan black organizations, such as the Joint Center for Political Studies, the Voter Education Project, and the NAACP. These organizations educated Black voters and encouraged them to register and vote. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper photo of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter with Martin Luther King Sr. prior to addressing members of the Voter Education Project in regards to an automatic voter registration bill. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Democratic Presidential Candidate Jimmy Carter with Rev. Martin Luther King Sr., August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Newspaper photo of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter with Martin Luther King Sr. prior to addressing members of the Voter Education Project in regards to an automatic voter registration bill. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Two newspaper clippings describing the results of the 1968 elections. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Legislators Rise from 23 to 30 in Dixie", circa 1969
Date Created
1964/1974
Description
Two newspaper clippings describing the results of the 1968 elections. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, Presidents, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records