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 = Political participation
The article discusses the results of the debates between President Reagan and Walter F. Mondale, highlighting the fact that, despite Reagan's shortcomings in terms of working hours, knowledge of important issues, coherence, and embarrassing public utterances, he comes across as a good-natured man who is liked even better for those faults and is likely to win the election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'Good Natured Man' Reagan Has the Voters Under His Spell", October 24, 1984
Date Created
1984-10-24
Description
The article discusses the results of the debates between President Reagan and Walter F. Mondale, highlighting the fact that, despite Reagan's shortcomings in terms of working hours, knowledge of important issues, coherence, and embarrassing public utterances, he comes across as a good-natured man who is liked even better for those faults and is likely to win the election. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, Political participation, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper op-ed describing they ways in which Black voters in Wisconsin played a decisive role in Jimmy Carter's victory in the state. They turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Carter, helping him to win by a narrow margin. Becaused of this, Black leaders called on Carter to respond to their proposals, including more representation in government and a reversal of the Nixon-Ford neglect of Black communities. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Now It's Carter's Time to Help Blacks", November 16, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-16
Description
Newspaper op-ed describing they ways in which Black voters in Wisconsin played a decisive role in Jimmy Carter's victory in the state. They turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Carter, helping him to win by a narrow margin. Becaused of this, Black leaders called on Carter to respond to their proposals, including more representation in government and a reversal of the Nixon-Ford neglect of Black communities. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing the role played by the overwhelming turnout of Black voters in the 1976 presidential election in securing Jimmy Carter's victory in the South. Black voter turnout posed a critical problem for the Republican Party, which had previously made steady gains in the South since the 1950s. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Political Analysts Ponder Heavy Black Vote for Carter", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Newspaper article describing the role played by the overwhelming turnout of Black voters in the 1976 presidential election in securing Jimmy Carter's victory in the South. Black voter turnout posed a critical problem for the Republican Party, which had previously made steady gains in the South since the 1950s. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding how the Southern Black vote in the 1976 presidential election was the most decisive and influential single exercise of minority political power in this century. The Voter Education Project (VEP) conducted a preliminary survey of the effect of the Black vote on November 2, and found that between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Black voters turned out to vote. Over 95 percent of all southern Blacks were estimated to have cast their ballot for Jimmy Carter for President. The VEP study found that a recently-expanded base of registered Black voters and a record Black turnout combined to provide President-elect Jimmy Carter with the obvious margin of victory across the South, with the exception of Virginia. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Vote Did It", November 13, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-13
Description
Newspaper article regarding how the Southern Black vote in the 1976 presidential election was the most decisive and influential single exercise of minority political power in this century. The Voter Education Project (VEP) conducted a preliminary survey of the effect of the Black vote on November 2, and found that between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Black voters turned out to vote. Over 95 percent of all southern Blacks were estimated to have cast their ballot for Jimmy Carter for President. The VEP study found that a recently-expanded base of registered Black voters and a record Black turnout combined to provide President-elect Jimmy Carter with the obvious margin of victory across the South, with the exception of Virginia. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Statistical analysis of the Fulton County Black vote for President, conducted by Clarence A. Bacote, including information regarding total registered voters, total votes for Carter, and total votes for Ford in the 1976 Presidential Election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Statistical Analysis of Black Vote for President in Fulton County, November 2, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-02
Description
Statistical analysis of the Fulton County Black vote for President, conducted by Clarence A. Bacote, including information regarding total registered voters, total votes for Carter, and total votes for Ford in the 1976 Presidential Election. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the rapid increase of Black voter registration and turnout, fueled by a tour of Black leaders. The tour, which included the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, was credited with dampening apathy among Black voters. The leaders urged Blacks to register and vote, arguing that their votes could be decisive in key cities such as Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. While it was too early to say how the increased voter registration would translate into votes, the leaders were hopeful that Blacks will turn out in large numbers on Election Day. They believed that the Black vote could be the difference between victory and defeat for Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Are Pleased By Election Effort", October 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-31
Description
Newspaper article regarding the rapid increase of Black voter registration and turnout, fueled by a tour of Black leaders. The tour, which included the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, was credited with dampening apathy among Black voters. The leaders urged Blacks to register and vote, arguing that their votes could be decisive in key cities such as Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. While it was too early to say how the increased voter registration would translate into votes, the leaders were hopeful that Blacks will turn out in large numbers on Election Day. They believed that the Black vote could be the difference between victory and defeat for Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Voter Education Project's predictions that a record number of Black voters would cast ballots in the 1976 presidential election. VEP's prediction was based on reports of record Black voter registration in local drives conducted by the organization. VEP mounted advertising campaigns and more than 100 local drives to encourage voter registration and participation. The organization believed that the Black vote would be pivotal in the presidential election, as well as in hundreds of state and local elections. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Record Black Voter Turnout Seen In South", October 29, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-29
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Voter Education Project's predictions that a record number of Black voters would cast ballots in the 1976 presidential election. VEP's prediction was based on reports of record Black voter registration in local drives conducted by the organization. VEP mounted advertising campaigns and more than 100 local drives to encourage voter registration and participation. The organization believed that the Black vote would be pivotal in the presidential election, as well as in hundreds of state and local elections. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Democratic Party's hopes that minority voters would turn out in large numbers to help Jimmy Carter win the election. However, there was a decline in Black voter participation in previous years. The Carter campaign worked hard to register and get out the vote among minority voters, but success was not guaranteed. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Democrats Spur Minority Turnout As Presidency Key", October 27, 1976
Date Created
1976-10-27
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Democratic Party's hopes that minority voters would turn out in large numbers to help Jimmy Carter win the election. However, there was a decline in Black voter participation in previous years. The Carter campaign worked hard to register and get out the vote among minority voters, but success was not guaranteed. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding Jimmy Carter's criticism of President Ford for being "timid, fearful and afraid to lead". He accused Ford of neglecting to mention his leadership record as President and of failing to address important issues such as trust, embarrassment, and shame. Carter also criticized the government's handling of the Medicaid program, which he said lost $4 billion a year through fraud, deficient patient care, maladministration, and the issuance of benefits to ineligible persons. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Attacks Ford's Ability to Lead", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Newspaper article regarding Jimmy Carter's criticism of President Ford for being "timid, fearful and afraid to lead". He accused Ford of neglecting to mention his leadership record as President and of failing to address important issues such as trust, embarrassment, and shame. Carter also criticized the government's handling of the Medicaid program, which he said lost $4 billion a year through fraud, deficient patient care, maladministration, and the issuance of benefits to ineligible persons. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the uncertain status of the 1976 presidential debates. While Jimmy Carter asserted that plans for the televised confrontations were nearly set, but a spokesman for President Ford stated that no agreement was in sight. The proposed debates were to be a series of three debates, each lasting an hour and 15 minutes, beginning the third week in September. Despite the lack of an agreement, both campaigns prepared for the debates. Carter said that he preferred a format that allowed questioning on a wide variety of subjects, while Ford wanted questions limited in each debate to a specific issue. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Presidential Debates Debatable", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
Newspaper article regarding the uncertain status of the 1976 presidential debates. While Jimmy Carter asserted that plans for the televised confrontations were nearly set, but a spokesman for President Ford stated that no agreement was in sight. The proposed debates were to be a series of three debates, each lasting an hour and 15 minutes, beginning the third week in September. Despite the lack of an agreement, both campaigns prepared for the debates. Carter said that he preferred a format that allowed questioning on a wide variety of subjects, while Ford wanted questions limited in each debate to a specific issue. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the public mood in the bicentennial presidential election year as desiring the federal government to be run in a more humane fashion, and that voters preferred someone who had not been in the bureaucracy to be in charge. The article discusses three outsider candidates who stirred more interest than the candidates from Congress: Ronald Reagan, George Wallace, and Jimmy Carter. The article argues that Carter was the most appealing of these three candidates because he was not anti-government like Reagan and Wallace, and he was not just another warmed-over New Dealer like the liberal Democrats. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jimmy Carter: Fitting the Mood of the Voters", January 4, 1976
Date Created
1976-01-04
Description
Newspaper article regarding the public mood in the bicentennial presidential election year as desiring the federal government to be run in a more humane fashion, and that voters preferred someone who had not been in the bureaucracy to be in charge. The article discusses three outsider candidates who stirred more interest than the candidates from Congress: Ronald Reagan, George Wallace, and Jimmy Carter. The article argues that Carter was the most appealing of these three candidates because he was not anti-government like Reagan and Wallace, and he was not just another warmed-over New Dealer like the liberal Democrats. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voter registration, Political campaigns, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Table representing the 1976 Presidential Election results and estimated voter participation in the Southern States, including information regarding total votes cast estimated Black registration, and estimated Black voter turnout. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Table of 1976 Presidential Election Results Estimated Voter Participation, 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
Table representing the 1976 Presidential Election results and estimated voter participation in the Southern States, including information regarding total votes cast estimated Black registration, and estimated Black voter turnout. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
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