The membrane potential across anion-exchange membranes in H2SO4 and Na2SO4 solutions was measured, and the experimental results were fitted to the theory in the 2-1 electrolyte system based on the Donnan equilibrium and the Nernst-Planck flux equations. For the Na2SO4 solution, the Donnan potential makes a significant contribution to the membrane potential, but for the H2SO4 solution, the diffusion potential significantly contributes to the membrane potential. The diffusion potential has a greater contribution to the membrane potential across AEM-2 with a high water content than that across AEM-1. These results suggest that a proton with a high mobility can move without substantial influence of electrostatic interaction in a positively charged membrane. © 2005 Published by Elsevier Inc.