You’ve probably seen the photos. A horse and buggy parked outside a fire hall, a long line of folks in suspenders and straw hats, and maybe a "Trump 2024" sign nearby. It looks like a collision of two different centuries. People always ask: can the Amish vote? The short answer is a flat yes. Legally, they have every right to head to the polls. They are U.S. citizens, they pay taxes (well, most of them—they don’t do Social Security), and they are bound by the law. But the "can" isn't the interesting part. The "do they" is where things get weirdly messy and fascinating.
The Two Kingdoms Problem
Most Amish folks live by a "two-kingdom" theology. Basically, they believe there is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man. They are citizens of the first one. The second one? That’s just where they happen to be parked for a few decades.
Because of this, many Amish believe that getting involved in politics is "worldly." It’s seen as a distraction from a life of humility and peace. If you’re a pacifist who refuses to fight in a war, how can you vote for a Commander-in-Chief who might start one? That’s a real tension they feel. Honestly, for a lot of church elders, voting feels like trying to have one foot in heaven and one foot in Washington D.C. It just doesn't work for them.
Local vs. National: Where the Lines Blur
If you go to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, or Holmes County, Ohio, you’ll find that the "no voting" rule isn't actually a rule. It's more of a suggestion that varies by church district. Some bishops are strictly against it. Others? They don't really care as long as you aren't running for office yourself.
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Interestingly, the Amish are way more likely to vote in local elections than for President. Think about it. A new zoning law or a school board decision about curriculum affects their farms and their kids directly. When a bureaucrat starts talking about paving a road or seizing land for a pipeline, the "separation from the world" gets a little harder to maintain. In those cases, you might see a decent turnout.
Why Republicans are Obsessed with the Amish Vote
Lately, political operatives have realized that the Amish are basically a sleeping giant of conservative voters. They love small government. They hate regulations. They want to be left alone to farm and raise their families. In a swing state like Pennsylvania, where the Amish population is over 90,000, even a tiny shift can matter.
We saw this in the 2024 election. Activists like Scott Presler spent months in Lancaster County doing ground-level work. They weren't just running TV ads—Amish don't watch TV. They were putting up billboards and visiting markets.
The Raw Milk Factor
You might think the Amish care about foreign policy or the national debt. Kinda. But what really gets them to the polls is stuff like the Amos Miller case.
Miller is an Amish farmer who faced a massive legal battle over selling raw milk and unpasteurized products. When the government raided his farm, it sent shockwaves through the "Plain" community. It wasn't just about milk anymore; it was about religious freedom and the right to run a business without the state breathing down your neck. For many who had never voted in their lives, that raid was a wake-up call. It made the "Kingdom of Man" suddenly feel very invasive.
Does it Actually Change Elections?
Despite the media hype, the actual number of Amish who vote remains pretty low. Most experts, like Steven Nolt from the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, point out that even with a "surge," we’re talking about a few thousand extra votes.
In the 2020 election, maybe 3,000 Amish voted in Lancaster County. By 2024, that number definitely ticked up, but it’s still a fraction of the community. Most Amish still prefer to stay quiet and pray for whoever is in power, regardless of the party. They take the "pray for those in authority" part of the Bible very seriously, even if they didn't help put them there.
Misconceptions You've Probably Heard
- They aren't allowed to vote: False. No law or universal church ban stops them.
- They vote in a bloc: Mostly false. While they lean conservative, they aren't a monolith. Some don't vote because they don't like the "character" of certain candidates.
- They use mail-in ballots: Actually, this is becoming more popular. It's easier than hitching up the horse for a five-mile trek to a crowded polling place. Plus, it’s more private.
The Future of the Plain Vote
As the Amish population grows—and it’s doubling roughly every 20 years—politicians are only going to get more aggressive. If the community continues to feel that their lifestyle is under threat by government overreach, we might see the end of the "quiet" Amish era.
But for now, if you’re driving through the backroads of Ohio or Pennsylvania on Election Day, you might see a few buggies at the local schoolhouse. It’s a small, quiet act of participation from a people who would mostly rather be left alone.
What to Keep in Mind
If you're looking to understand this community's impact, don't just look at the raw numbers. Look at the issues. If you want to see how the Amish are engaging with the world today, keep an eye on:
- Local zoning boards: This is where their real power is often felt.
- Agricultural regulations: Laws regarding raw dairy or organic standards are huge motivators.
- Voter registration drives: Groups like the Amish PAC are specifically targeting these "low-propensity" voters with mailers and newspaper ads.
The Amish may be "plain," but their relationship with the ballot box is anything but simple. It’s a constant tug-of-war between their religious identity and the reality of living in a modern, regulated state.