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 = Voter registration
  • Subjects = Race discrimination
"More Blacks are turning to the politics of frustration", "Federal workers await voter registration rule", and "Rev. Jesse Jackson and his "tribal politics". 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"More Blacks are Turning to the Politics of Frustration", July 15, 1984
Date Created
1984-07-15
Description
"More Blacks are turning to the politics of frustration", "Federal workers await voter registration rule", and "Rev. Jesse Jackson and his "tribal politics". 6 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Voter registration, Race discrimination, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the VEP has helped register four million Black voters and increase the number of Black elected officials in the South from 72 in 1965 to early 3,000 in recent times, with most of the VEP's budget coming from foundations, grants are made to local groups ranging from $150 to $2,000, and the organization still encounters voter intimidation in some areas. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Project Fills Rolls 21 years", October 23, 1983
Date Created
1983-10-23
Description
Article on how the VEP has helped register four million Black voters and increase the number of Black elected officials in the South from 72 in 1965 to early 3,000 in recent times, with most of the VEP's budget coming from foundations, grants are made to local groups ranging from $150 to $2,000, and the organization still encounters voter intimidation in some areas. 1 page.
Subject
Groups and organizations, Voter registration, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Voter Education Project is seeking state legislators' support to abolish the undemocratic relic of one-person governing boards, which 15% of Georgia's counties still have, and according to a study, this form of county government cannot be found outside Georgia; Georgia's devices such as one-person boards and the requirement of runoffs have a chilling effect on efforts by racial and other minorities to achieve effective representation, and VEP officials argue that this facilitated the one-party system which eliminated Blacks as an effective political force a century ago. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Only in Georgia: One Man County Governing Boards", July 17, 1983
Date Created
1983--07-17
Description
The Voter Education Project is seeking state legislators' support to abolish the undemocratic relic of one-person governing boards, which 15% of Georgia's counties still have, and according to a study, this form of county government cannot be found outside Georgia; Georgia's devices such as one-person boards and the requirement of runoffs have a chilling effect on efforts by racial and other minorities to achieve effective representation, and VEP officials argue that this facilitated the one-party system which eliminated Blacks as an effective political force a century ago. 3 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on Reappointment Committee member Joe Mack Wilson's racist remarks on designating voting districts to suppress the minority vote in Georgia. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Remap Official Accused of Racist Remark", January 2, 1982
Date Created
1982-01-02
Description
Article on Reappointment Committee member Joe Mack Wilson's racist remarks on designating voting districts to suppress the minority vote in Georgia. 2 pages.
Subject
Race discrimination, Voter registration, Gerrymandering
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP report on how historically, Blacks and other minorities have faced barriers in their attempts to participate effectively in the electoral process, including voter registration, voting, and candidacy, due to lack of interest and affirmative attempts by officials, inconvenient registration practices, inadequate information, physical and economic intimidation, discriminatory regulations and enforcement, and other forms of intimidation. 10 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Barriers to Effective Participation in Electoral Politics" by Richard A. Hudlin and K. Farouk Brimah, March 1
Date Created
1981-03
Description
VEP report on how historically, Blacks and other minorities have faced barriers in their attempts to participate effectively in the electoral process, including voter registration, voting, and candidacy, due to lack of interest and affirmative attempts by officials, inconvenient registration practices, inadequate information, physical and economic intimidation, discriminatory regulations and enforcement, and other forms of intimidation. 10 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
This report discusses the historical barriers faced by Blacks and other minorities in their attempts to participate effectively in electoral processes, including registration, voting, candidacy, physical and economic intimidation, fair and effective representation, and the impact of the Voting Rights Act. It outlines specific obstacles within each of these areas, including a lack of interest or affirmative action by officials to encourage minority participation, inconvenient locations or times for registration and voting, inadequate minority personnel, insufficient information about policies and procedures, restrictions on third party or independent candidates, and physical and economic intimidation. 10 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Barriers to Effective Participation in Electoral Politics", VEP Report, 1981
Date Created
1981
Description
This report discusses the historical barriers faced by Blacks and other minorities in their attempts to participate effectively in electoral processes, including registration, voting, candidacy, physical and economic intimidation, fair and effective representation, and the impact of the Voting Rights Act. It outlines specific obstacles within each of these areas, including a lack of interest or affirmative action by officials to encourage minority participation, inconvenient locations or times for registration and voting, inadequate minority personnel, insufficient information about policies and procedures, restrictions on third party or independent candidates, and physical and economic intimidation. 10 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report on the VEP being dedicated to promoting participatory democracy among minorities in the southern states, where historical discrimination has excluded Blacks and Chicanos from government processes, and seeks to increase minority political participation through various means such as voter registration, advocacy, research, and public support, despite facing challenges from those in power who view it as a threat to the status quo, and aims to eliminate barriers to minority political power through persistent organizing efforts and financial resources, with the ultimate goal of achieving unrestricted minority political participation for the benefit of future generations. 22 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Barriers to Minority Political Progress in the South" by Archie E. Allen, circa 1981
Date Created
1978/1984
Description
Report on the VEP being dedicated to promoting participatory democracy among minorities in the southern states, where historical discrimination has excluded Blacks and Chicanos from government processes, and seeks to increase minority political participation through various means such as voter registration, advocacy, research, and public support, despite facing challenges from those in power who view it as a threat to the status quo, and aims to eliminate barriers to minority political power through persistent organizing efforts and financial resources, with the ultimate goal of achieving unrestricted minority political participation for the benefit of future generations. 22 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Alabama Secretary of State Don Siegelman expressed distress over the appointment of Ku Klux Klansman Billy Hendrix as a deputy voter registrar in Randolph County, which has historically been known for not appointing Black deputy registrars, but acknowledged that there is no state law to prevent such appointments. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Klansman's Job Irks Siegelman", circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
Alabama Secretary of State Don Siegelman expressed distress over the appointment of Ku Klux Klansman Billy Hendrix as a deputy voter registrar in Randolph County, which has historically been known for not appointing Black deputy registrars, but acknowledged that there is no state law to prevent such appointments. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing allegations from Black civil rights leaders in New Orleans that the Orleans Parish registrar of voters deliberately purged Blacks from the city's voting rolls. They claimed that the office was unfairly discriminating against Blacks in its annual purge of voters who had not cast ballots in the last two years, or who had moved without notifying the registrar's office of their change of address. They also charged that the office discriminated against Blacks in its choice of locations for branch registration offices, and that Blacks were discriminated against in employment by voter registrars' offices statewide. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Purge Is Charged by Blacks", August 21, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-21
Description
Newspaper article describing allegations from Black civil rights leaders in New Orleans that the Orleans Parish registrar of voters deliberately purged Blacks from the city's voting rolls. They claimed that the office was unfairly discriminating against Blacks in its annual purge of voters who had not cast ballots in the last two years, or who had moved without notifying the registrar's office of their change of address. They also charged that the office discriminated against Blacks in its choice of locations for branch registration offices, and that Blacks were discriminated against in employment by voter registrars' offices statewide. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Brochure from the Voter Education Project describing unfair voting practices across Southern states. 13 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Election 76, Not Equal for All Americans", 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
Brochure from the Voter Education Project describing unfair voting practices across Southern states. 13 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Race discrimination, Race relations, Political posters, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the work of John Lewis, head of the Voter Education Project, which aims to register Black voters in 11 southern states, and has added 2.5 million new Black voters to the voting lists since 1965, and the significance of the Voting Rights Act, including the recent extension of the act by the US House of Representatives and Ronald Reagan's denial of knowledge of the act. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Through Hell at King Elbow", 1975
Date Created
1975
Description
The article discusses the work of John Lewis, head of the Voter Education Project, which aims to register Black voters in 11 southern states, and has added 2.5 million new Black voters to the voting lists since 1965, and the significance of the Voting Rights Act, including the recent extension of the act by the US House of Representatives and Ronald Reagan's denial of knowledge of the act. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, African American civic leaders, Race discrimination, African American civil rights workers, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
List of administrative and legal barriers to minority political participation, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." In the past, minorities in the Southern states faced a number of barriers to registering to vote and voting, including purges and reregistration, discriminatory location of polling places, intimidation and exclusion of minority poll workers, and legal barriers such as at-large voting requirements and malapportioned election districts. These barriers made it difficult for minorities to participate in the political process and undermined their right to vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Administrative and Legal Barriers to Minority Political Participation, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
List of administrative and legal barriers to minority political participation, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." In the past, minorities in the Southern states faced a number of barriers to registering to vote and voting, including purges and reregistration, discriminatory location of polling places, intimidation and exclusion of minority poll workers, and legal barriers such as at-large voting requirements and malapportioned election districts. These barriers made it difficult for minorities to participate in the political process and undermined their right to vote. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Public address written by John R. Lewis urging people to renounce the racially-repugnant sentiments of Georgia politician J.B. Stoner and register to vote in order to protect their interests, written August 15, 1972. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"J.B. Stoner", August 15, 1972
Date Created
1972-08-15
Author
Lewis, John R.
Description
Public address written by John R. Lewis urging people to renounce the racially-repugnant sentiments of Georgia politician J.B. Stoner and register to vote in order to protect their interests, written August 15, 1972. 3 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Flyer from the Lunenburg County, Virginia branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) asking Black citizens to not support segregated newspapers. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Lunenburg County NAACP, circa 1970
Date Created
1968/1972
Description
Flyer from the Lunenburg County, Virginia branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) asking Black citizens to not support segregated newspapers. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Race discrimination, Race relations, Political posters, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Montez G. Albright to Donald Fowler regarding Fowler's request for statistics and reports related to voter registration among Black voters in South Carolina. 22 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence and Figures from Montez G. Albright to Donald Fowler, July 22, 1964
Date Created
1964-07-22
Description
Correspondence from Montez G. Albright to Donald Fowler regarding Fowler's request for statistics and reports related to voter registration among Black voters in South Carolina. 22 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping referencing two articles, outlined in red. The first article (center) describes a meeting of the Alabama Democratic Conference in which they condemn Governor George Wallace's racism. The other article, entitled "State Political Leaders Meet," references the annual meeting of the Alabama State Coordinating Association for Registration and Voting and a presentation by the Voter Education Project. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ala. Negro Democrats Hit Wallace in 2-day Session", April 18, 1964
Date Created
1964-04-18
Description
A newspaper clipping referencing two articles, outlined in red. The first article (center) describes a meeting of the Alabama Democratic Conference in which they condemn Governor George Wallace's racism. The other article, entitled "State Political Leaders Meet," references the annual meeting of the Alabama State Coordinating Association for Registration and Voting and a presentation by the Voter Education Project. 2 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political campaigns, Political participation, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping of a story about Lonnie Brown, who was harassed for attempting to register to vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Ins. Agent Asks Voter Right", April 11, 1964
Date Created
1964-04-11
Description
A newspaper clipping of a story about Lonnie Brown, who was harassed for attempting to register to vote. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing barriers to voter registration in Wilcox County, Alabama. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Again, Wilcox County, Alabama", April 11, 1964
Date Created
1964-04-11
Description
A newspaper clipping describing barriers to voter registration in Wilcox County, Alabama. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping regarding the denial of an injunction to bar voter registrars from discriminating against Black Americans in Wilcox County, Alabama. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Judge Denies Wilcox Motion", March 31, 1964
Date Created
1964-03-31
Description
A newspaper clipping regarding the denial of an injunction to bar voter registrars from discriminating against Black Americans in Wilcox County, Alabama. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing the use of different voter registration questionnaires. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"New Registration System in Use", March 12, 1964
Date Created
1964-03-12
Description
A newspaper clipping describing the use of different voter registration questionnaires. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records