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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  • Document Type = text�
Correspondence between Geraldine Thompson and Marlene K. Cohn discussing the final stages of developing a publication, "Electoral Participation: Gateway to Democracy" and outline of the publication. 3 pages.
Correspondence between Florence R. Rubin and Mr. Sherrill Marcus with enclosed directory list. 8 pages.
Report of the LWVEF Litigation Workshop on Reapportionment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which includes a general summary, equal population standards, with additional information. 9 pages.
Correspondence between Sherrill Marcus and Cynthia D. Hill confirming invitation to the Voter Education Project in Atlanta. 1 page.
Correspondence between Elizabeth J. Dribben and Mr. John Lewis concerning the presidential election with enclosed flyers about voter registration. 1 page.
The League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County Newsletter which includes a calendar of events, lists of activities, articles, and surveys. 13 pages.
Handwritten Notes on problems, selection, training, recommendations, and summary with state lists. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Keller Bumgardner and Conference Participants, "Making Election Process Work Conference" in Columbia, South Carolina memorandum summarizing the conference recommendations. 5 pages.
Facts published by League of Women Voters of Atlanta- Fulton County with city candidates information, questions and answers, and information about the city council. 24 pages.
Recommendations from "Conference on Making the Election Process Work" with enclosed memo, conference materials, and summary report of the conference. 25 pages.
Participants at Conference on Making the Election Process Work: Improving Registration and Polling Place Operations League of Women Voters Education Fund in Columbia, South Carolina listing participants, speakers, discussion leaders, staff, and trustees. 5 pages.
Preliminary Agenda Conference on Making the Election Process Work: Improving Registration and Polling Place Operations of the League of Women Voters Education Fund in Columbia, South Carolina. 3 pages.
Correspondence between Mrs. Keller Bumgardner, Election Systems Project and Election Systems Project Conference Participants about election conference in Columbia, South Carolina with details of the conference. 1 page.
"Making It Work: A Guide to Training Election Workers" booklet from the League of Women Voters on how to train election workers with enclosed correspondence between Mr. John Lewis and Mrs. Keller Bumgardner. 34 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Facts: League of Women Voters of the United States 1973-74" brochure detailing the national program, community work, voters services, and publications. 5 pages.
League of Women Voters Education Fund brochure "Removing Administrative Obstacles to Voting" which guides communities on the obstacles to voting with attached memo to John Lewis. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence between Mary Louise Shadle and Mr. Lewis thanking Mr. Lewis for help in the "Turn on to Voting" rally. 1 page.
"Materials for the August 15 Meeting in Washington" which includes drafts of the memorandum to local and state league Presidents, and pre-election guide to removing administrative obstacles to voting. 38 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Charlene Haykel and Members of the Election Systems Project Program Committee with invitation to the convention and reports of the committee meeting and "Hypothetical Case: Rural County". 5 pages.
Proposed agenda, Conference on Expanding the Electorate-Administrative Obstacles to Voting August 1-2, 1972 detailing schedule of events and programs. 2 pages.