The image of an Amish man in a horse-drawn buggy navigating modern traffic is a familiar sight in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Juxtaposed against this traditional scene, billboards sometimes appear, like the one recently proclaiming, “Pray for God’s Mercy for Our Nation,” featuring a wide-brimmed straw hat and the phrase “Fer Die Amische.” These billboards highlight a growing question in American politics: how do Amish vote, and what role do they play in elections?
Alt Text: Billboard in Lancaster County targeting Amish voters, reading “Pray for God’s Mercy for Our Nation” in English and “Fer Die Amische” in Pennsylvania German.
For decades, the Amish community, known for their distinct lifestyle and separation from mainstream society, has largely remained outside the electoral process. Researchers note that most Amish individuals do not register to vote, a reflection of their historical separation from worldly affairs. This is consistent with other aspects of their culture, such as maintaining their Pennsylvania German dialect and horse-and-buggy transportation.
However, this tradition of non-participation is not absolute. In swing states like Pennsylvania, where elections can be decided by narrow margins, even a small percentage of voters can be significant. This reality has led to increased efforts to engage the Amish community in the political process, particularly from the Republican party.
Republicans have actively sought Amish votes through various means, including billboards, targeted advertising, door-to-door canvassing, and community meetings. The GOP believes their platform of smaller government, less regulation, and religious freedom resonates with Amish values. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, representing Lancaster County and with Amish family roots, has voiced optimism about increased Amish voter turnout, citing enthusiasm within the community. He suggests that the Amish desire minimal government interference in both their businesses and religious practices.
Alt Text: An Amish man driving a horse-drawn buggy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, illustrating the traditional lifestyle of the Amish community.
Despite these targeted efforts and potential shifts, experts caution against expecting a dramatic surge in Amish voting that could decisively swing an election. Steven Nolt, director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, emphasizes that historically and presently, the majority of Amish do not vote and are unlikely to do so in the near future.
While most Amish abstain from voting, a small percentage, typically less than 10% within specific settlements in Lancaster and other areas, do participate in elections. Nolt’s research involves meticulous post-election analysis, manually cross-referencing voter rolls with church directories to understand Amish voting trends. This detailed approach is necessary because real-time tracking during elections is not feasible.
Pennsylvania is home to approximately 92,000 Amish individuals of all ages, with about half residing in the Lancaster region. However, considering the large number of children in Amish families, less than half are of voting age. In the 2020 election, Nolt estimates that around 3,000 Amish voted in the Lancaster area and several hundred more across the rest of Pennsylvania.
Even a significant proportional increase in Amish voter turnout would likely translate to hundreds, perhaps a thousand, additional votes in Lancaster County. While every vote is valuable, especially in close elections, this number is unlikely to flip a state like Pennsylvania, which Joe Biden won by roughly 80,000 votes in 2020.
Nevertheless, the Republican party remains hopeful, believing their messages are increasingly relevant to the evolving Amish community. Congressman Smucker points out that Lancaster County’s Amish population, once primarily agrarian, has diversified into small businesses due to land scarcity. This shift makes the Republican emphasis on deregulation and limited government particularly appealing to Amish entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the perception that Republicans are stronger advocates for religious liberty and are against abortion also resonates within the community.
Historically, some Amish voted more frequently in the 1950s during controversies surrounding compulsory school policies, but voting rates have generally declined since then. Wayne Wengerd, Ohio state director of the Amish Steering Committee, notes that voter registration drives targeting the Amish are not new, dating back to the 1960s. He acknowledges that political activists will naturally target any group they believe could support their party, and the Amish are no exception.
The primary reason for low Amish voter turnout lies in their “two-kingdom” theology. This theological framework emphasizes a distinct separation between the earthly government and the church, which is focused on the heavenly kingdom. Amish individuals see themselves as citizens of this spiritual kingdom first and foremost, which discourages engagement in earthly politics. However, as Wengerd points out, Amish communities are diverse, and individual views on voting vary.
In areas like rural Lancaster County, which has historically leaned Republican, Amish voters who do participate often align with their neighbors’ political preferences and tend to register as Republicans. Despite the prevailing two-kingdom theology, some within the Amish community argue for a civic duty to vote. An anonymous ad in a Lancaster newspaper, attributed to an “Amishman” from Ohio, urged voting as a means to “stand against evil” and protect the nation’s values. This perspective, as noted by Nolt, aligns more with mainstream Reformed Protestant theology, which emphasizes a dual responsibility to God and country, rather than traditional Amish separatist views.
While conservative Christian support for figures like Donald Trump has been a subject of discussion given his background, Nolt suggests that from an Amish perspective, both major presidential candidates represent lifestyles far removed from their own. This perceived disconnect is another significant factor contributing to the generally low voter participation within the Amish community. Ultimately, understanding how Amish vote requires acknowledging the complex interplay of their unique cultural values, theological beliefs, and evolving engagement with the broader American political landscape.
