https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/10/09/famously-secluded-amish-are-target-republican-campaign-drum-up-pennsylvania-votes-trump/

On a farm where eight Amish children in their traditional clothing were playing baseball, a young woman said sternly of those who would ask the Amish to vote: “We don’t really appreciate that.”

As she skillfully snapped lima bean pods off the bushes at her farm, another woman said about voting: “My husband never did; I never did.”

The same answer at market stall after market stall, where Amish farmers sell their wares: Never voted. Never wanted to vote.

But Ben Walters, who co-founded Amish PAC, says the tide is turning. He said he heard from more Amish people willing to vote in 2018 than in 2016; in 2020, he thinks, the numbers will be even higher. “Their votes would be so important, and there’s a lot of them,” he said. “Since 2016, every single year, it gets a little bit easier. We’re seeing more and more signs of progress. I think behaviors are finally changing.”

what is PAC?

It's a political action committee.

Biden is so deeply connected to politicians in Pennsylvania, I'd be shocked if it goes any other way than that.

The number of Republican signs was mind-numbing - even in areas where buggies and people on kick scooter seemed to outnumber all other transportation.

I hope they only decide to vote if they also decide to fully participate in the duties of civic life - which frankly should be incumbent of everyone anyway.

Tyson

https://amishamerica.com/do-amish-vote/

Do Amish vote?

Amish electoral participation is limited, though some Amish do vote.

Only a small number of Amish cast ballots in presidential elections, likely less than 10%. Amish may be more likely to get involved when voting involves issues which directly affect them, such as zoning. Amish generally do not vote for a few reasons.

Why don’t most Amish participate in political elections?

For one, Amish follow a “Two Kingdoms” theology, which holds that there exist both a material and a spiritual kingdom. While respecting worldly governments, Amish feel that Christians should adhere to the laws of the spiritual kingdom above all.

Though Amish are highly law-abiding, they view the material kingdom as worldly and traditionally limit interaction within it. Amish believe in non-resistance, and may be hesitant to take part in electing a politician who may use force as an agent of the state. Amish do not hold political office themselves, for similar reasons.

Additionally, voting in national elections for candidates who enact a wide array of laws in distant Washington may be seen as an abstract endeavor. This is one reason that local elections concerning tangible issues may receive a greater response from Amish.

How many Amish cast ballots?

Voting is typically not prohibited outright, and the decision to vote is left to the individual in most congregations. Donald Kraybill notes that in the Lancaster community, “Those who vote tend to be younger businessmen with an interest in community affairs” (The Riddle of Amish Culture, Kraybill p 275). The approach to voting varies between communities.


Participation is more likely when voting concerns local issues. However, Amish do take some interest in national elections. George Bush attempted to tap into Amish interest in 2004, when he visited both Lancaster County and Holmes County, Ohio during his re-election campaign to ask for Amish and Mennonite support.

Hurst and McConnell report that in 2004, 43% of Holmes County Amish were registered to vote, though only 13% did so, with most selecting Bush (An Amish Paradox, Hurst and McConnell, p 267).

Amish have been termed “armchair Republicans”, and are seen to be more sympathetic to the Republican party due to a perception of it as one more concerned with religion and traditional values. Though voting is not common, some Amish follow political news and many have and share opinions on politics and politicians.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2020 11:07PM by anybody.

Tyson Dunn Wrote:
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> The number of Republican signs was mind-numbing -
> even in areas where buggies and people on kick
> scooter seemed to outnumber all other
> transportation.
>
They're now having horse-and-buggy political parades.

Look for more amish drive-by shootings in the future.

The Amish have been wise to stay out of the snake pit of politics. I know they are potential victims of political shenanigans, but it is a horrible, cynical world who will take advantage of more naive people.

I remember in the news a few years ago, some Amish were breaking in to the homes of other Amish and forcibly cutting off their beards. I guess that having your beard cut off puts you in to a state of shame. So these assaults by Amish against other Amish were to shame the victems. Some of the victems called the police and filed reports. Others didn't want to report it.