In 1963, a group of activists that included Aaron Henry, Fannie Lou Hamer and Edwin King gathered to strategize in Henry's backyard. 1964 was an election year and was to be the year of Freedom Summer. The group, COFO (Council of Federated Organizations), decided to run a mock election concurrent with the national election to prove that black voters would come out in force to cast their ballots. Aaron Henry was on the mock ballot for the governor, and Edwin King, chaplain at Tougaloo College, ran for lieutenant governor. Ballot boxes were placed at churches and businesses. More than 80,000 votes were cast in the mock election, proof positive that black voters would turn out if their candidates ran.
