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.

For:
  • Subjects = Suffrage
Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
"Candidates and Constitutional Amendments", October 1984 1984-10 The League of Women Voters of Georgia, a nonpartisan organization providing election information through its voter service program presents this guide to candidates and Constitutional Amendments for the November 6, 1984 General Election. 4 pages. Voter registration, Voting, Suffrage, Groups and organizations Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"History of the Voter Education Project and Race and Class in Southern Politics" Booklet, 1979 1979 VEP booklet of the concise history of the VEP from 1962 to 1979 with an excerpt from an unpublished study, "Historical Overview of Race and Class In Southern Politics." Voting, Voter Registration, Suffrage Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Hey, You Democrats, We'll All Benefit if a Black Runs for President", by Jesse L. Jackson, circa 1980 1977/1983 The article argues that the relationship between Black voters and the Democratic Party needs to be renegotiated, with power and responsibility shared fully, and suggests that running a Black presidential candidate in 1984 could force Democrats to appreciate the potential positive contribution of the Black vote to party politics and the nation, as well as to build a new progressive coalition that includes Hispanics, women, young people, poor Whites, and Native Americans. 1 page. Political participation, Voting, Suffrage, Race relations, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"For God Sake Vote" Poster, circa 1973 1968/1978 A child stands on a sidewalk and holds a sign urging viewers to vote. Voting, Suffrage, African American children Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voting booth, circa 1968 1964/1973 Women enter a voting booth. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1968 1964/1973 A women and her baby sits at a table and registers to vote with the aid of a registration worker. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1968 1964/1973 A women holding a child registers to vote with the aid of a registration worker. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration in Augusta, Georgia, circa 1968 1964/1973 Women stand in line and register to vote. Written on verso: Voter registration, Augusta, GA. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration in Augusta, Georgia, circa 1968 1964/1973 Women stand in line and register to vote. Written on verso: Voter registration, Augusta, GA. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration in Augusta, Georgia, circa 1968 1964/1973 Women stand in line and register to vote. Written on verso: Voter registration, Augusta, GA. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration in Augusta, Georgia, circa 1968 1964/1973 Women stand in line and register to vote. Written on verso: Voter registration, Augusta, GA. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1968 1964/1973 A group of men and women stand outside in a parking lot and register to vote. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1968 1964/1973 Men and women stand in line to register to vote. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration Line, circa 1968 1964/1973 A large group of men and women stand in line outside of a building hosting voter registration. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1968 1964/1973 A women sits at a table and registers to vote with the aid of a registration worker. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Registration, circa 1968 1964/1973 A women registers to vote with other men and women. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Suffrage, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records