Aaron Henry and the Freedom Vote

The Mississippi Freedom Vote, or Mississippi Freedom Ballot, was a mock election that was made in an attempt to raise voter registration among Black Mississippians. It was put on by the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) in 1963. Aaron Henry was the president of COFO at this time, and he is highly credited with the creation of this freedom ballot. 

In this mock elelction, Aaron Henry was nominated for governer, alongside other Civil Rights activists on the ballots. The goal of this vote was to show both the government and the Black American citizens that Black voters could make a difference in the upcoming election. At this time, there was a very small amount of African Americans registered to vote in Mississippi. The belief was that, with encouragement, the government would see the impact the Black voters could have on American democracy and their willingness to vote in elections when given the chance. 

The Mississippi Freedom Vote had a massive impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and was an important prerequisite to Freedom Summer, which took place the next year. After winning the mock election, Aaron Henry went on to help register Black voters in Mississippi during Freedom Summer in 1964. He also helped to create the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party as an opposition to the all-white party that was to represent Mississippi at the Democratic National Convention. 

Sources:

Ashford, Evan Howard. "No Small Thing: The 1963 Mississippi Freedom Vote." Journal of African American History, vol. 105, no. 4, Fall 2020, Academic Search Premier

Curry, Constance. "Aaron Henry: A Civil Rights Leader of the 20th Century." Mississippi History Now, February 2011, Aaron Henry: A Civil Rights Leader of the 20th Century - 2011-02 (ms.gov)