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.
For further information, see:
The Riddle of Amish Culture, Donald B. Kraybill
An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community, Charles E. Hurst and David L. McConnell
Amish America blog: Do the Amish care about politics?
Kraybill, Donald B., and Kyle C. Kopko, “Bush Fever: Amish and Old Order Mennonites in the 2004 Election.” Mennonite Quarterly Review 81 (April 2007): 165-205.
This page updated February 19, 2020
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Get the Amish to the Polls
With the ever intruding central Government. I believe it to be in the Amish’s best interest to get out and vote for Ron Paul. No other candidate will protect their constitutional freedoms. No more masked men with guns raiding family dairy farms.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
I guess Amish know the truth of the matter — prayers count more in the end than votes.
Amish Voting
I have a problem with Amish voting since they believe in non resistence, (which I don’t have a problem with)voting in the very system you refuse to defend is not right.
Response to Lester
Lester Mast – – – it sounds like you’re saying you’d like to deny American citizens their right to vote based on their religion?
There are people who are not Amish who believe in non resistence and they vote.
Amish do Vote
When the polls open around Lancaster County, PA area, Many Amish are seen to vote. I remember my father voting in the 40s would always vote Republican. He was usually taken to the voting site by an “English” friend who also was active in the precinct to “Get Out The Vote”. No longer Amish, I have always maintained a conservative approach to politics and became pro-active in the voting process within my precinct of residence by being elected as a precinct office holder and state delegate to the SC State Republican Convention.
response to Lester Mast
As a soldier of 22 yrs, I feel the same way about the cowards who support wars, but have a boatload of weak excuses for not joining the military to defend their country.
How about women?
If you don’t know, the Mennonites and Amish, at least the ones I know do not allow their women to vote. I was raised by a single mom, who was a conservative Democrat. So I learned to take care of doing everything and being self sufficient from her. However, she was NOT a feminist. She didn’t believe men and women had the same strength and ability for really physical things, and therefore, she , and I did not, do not believe in women in combat. They were shown at West Point to not have the power and strength to carry an injured man out of danger if the occasion should arise. Very few women were able to handle the physical demands of military life. Now in the days of the WACs, there were many jobs women could do, but they were kept separate from the men, and I sgree with that. The coed thing has caused WAY too many problems. I used to work fotr the mess hall contractor in the town I moved to, and there were very few women, but for the exception of one, (the Chaplain’s assistant), they all were pregnant within a few months of being stationed there. That is pretty distracting and pretty useless in times of combat.
When I was taking Anatomy and Physiology, my textbook said the Westpoint studies showed that 50% of a woman’s weight was strength. And 90% of a man’s weight was strength. I’m not sure how they did the math, but it did give us a good idea about why men are put into these demanding positions rather than women. Men’s stength also is faster and more powerful and in the upper body, whole women are stronger in the legs and are better for endurance. It always made me mad that I had such a hard time pulling the cord on a generator, whiole a man just whips it once and it’s going. And I was at the time, a quite strong woman, though not great of build. I know my limits. We aren’t all Black Widow or Wonder Woman, though it seems a lot of faminists think they are.
Another thing to consider is the mental state of women. I think we’re fine to vote as long as we aren’t sucked in by Marxist ideology, but Trump has placed a lot of good smart women in positions of authority and many have done a good job but dropped out “for the family
“. But what I think this means is that we just aresn’t designed, yes I do mean designed, by God, to take a constant barrage of criticism, and jabs, and hatefulness. And it’s easier for men to shrug that off but it’s not so easy for women. We burn out easier. I guess that’s why men have their cave time and we don’t , like Mark Gungor says, our brains are going all the time. It does help us to talk it out with friends, but maybe these women can’t due to classified information.
something to say
I concur that Amish shouldn’t participate in voting and yes for their religious beliefs.
You can’t be a true man or woman of Christ who believes in Christ words advocating NONviolence and vote whatsoever in an organization which uses violence to enforce it’s laws, as well as fight in wars promoting its country’s pride- which is contradicting to Glassenheit- “humility”- no offense to any military subjects which have the right to choose what they believe.
In all honesty, people shouldn’t be forced to vote either or be looked down because they don’t choose to.
Some people serve higher laws- God’s laws- and are at constant struggle to live accordingly, when patriotic or judgmental people who do not allow them to do so, promote punishment for people of peace who have no exemption from the worldly law.
A day when a government can operate through peace in all things is when voting won’t be shunned by any living being (Unless you just don’t want peace), but by then who’d need to vote?
Jesus was not a pacifist
I believe that Jeaus does love us all and is the one true way to salvation. I do not subscribe that he was a pacifist. He boldly drove the money changers from the church! He was a soldier! The Amish have every right to vote whether they fight or not….
Was Jesus a pacifist
When he sent the disciples out one time he told them to take their swords , another he said to leave them behind. On the last night he told them one was enough. Obvious to me, Jesus believed in their protecting themselves, and likely each other.
Matthew 5:38-39 comes to mind….
Why did Jesus tell His disciples to buy a sword?
In Luke 22, Jesus tells his disciples to buy a sword. Why would He say this if they were never meant to defend themselves, with violence even? Other times it is obvious that the Sword and the dounble edged sword is the Word of God, and Jesus Himself is the Logos, the Word, and the sword comes out of His mouth. This is not talking about that. This is a physical sword. But why?
In Luke 3 (14) John the Baptist is preaching about various rules of right and wrong, and it’s amazing these people didn;t know this stuff since they had the scriptures, or maybe then they had to rely on the preists, but ; “14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” At no pojnt did John the Baptist tell them to give up their day job (soldier) and quit working for the government. They were never told to give up their swords and go nonviolent. In the use of soldiers and their duties, they are supposed to be for the defense of the country or kingdom or whatever. But in those days they were our police. But John is basically telling them to be fair. Quit abusing folks. Use your brain. Well there are a LOT of self defense verses, and mind you, we believe Christ Himself wrote all the Bible, though by inspiration into men.
Luke 11:21 – When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
Exodus 22:2-3 – If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him. (Read More…)
Luke 22:36 – Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take [it], and likewise [his] scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
1 Timothy 5:8 – But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Proverbs 25:26 – A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Psalms 144:1 – ([A Psalm] of David.) Blessed [be] the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to fight:
Romans 12:19 – Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Nehemiah 4:17-18 – They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon. (Read More…)
Romans 13:4 – For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Mark 3:27 – No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
People in military
I spent 23yrs in military I feel if you’re heart isn’t in to the military then you will bring the moral of the rest of the soldiers down these journalists that never served has no business of haveing a optioning on rather burg fall should have been traded do 5 terrorists I am not taking up for him but there is always reasoning for action we could be watching those 5 terrorist for intelligence we do not leave any body behind
Hello Dan! Trying to understand your actual text….., how could anyone bring the rest of a military man moral down if he is fully fixed on being a military man? And if there is room for any persuasion, I wouldn’t this imply that that particular soldier may need to reevaluate? Obviously, they are in an internal conflict and to some magnitude are actually inviting themselves to other options.
I agree journalist should no power of persuasion when they aren’t militaryman, just as I feel that people who are solely businessman and councilman shouldn’t have a say in combat if they’ve never combated and are not combaters; as well as, I feel lawmakers should refrain from making laws who have never been through the things which they make laws of- and finally, people should not be judges of an man, woman or child who simply is not going through what that man, woman or child is or is going through. However, this has been the way of the world- the heel over head and everyone wants to justify or moreless defend what they do to be right, instead of clearly seeing and knowing the wrong and putting an end to it. And with no offense, we all have opinions… I do not know of the terrorist news you speak of, I am not versed in global news; however, the judgment in this country, as well others that people hold is absolutely not being resolved when we are constantly worried about life in ways which never bring and promote life.
Where there is no love, there is hate and where there is violence there is no peace. Love conquerors and forgives all and it is best exhibited thru nonviolence towards one another let alone ourselves. If we are going to object anything- I believe we ought to object it peacefully, with assertiveness and with love guiding us to the righteousness. I am not suggesting that soldiers are undone, just the government’s which make soldiers of God ungodly men. The moral of that type of soldier will never be put down.
Conscientious objectors
There used to be a place for Conscientious Objectors, they would be medics or they would be kitchen staff or they would do paperwork or whatever. They still were put to work, but it wouldn’t be combat. And back in the days of WWII, my mentor WWII vet friend told me, they only had a 15% shoot rate. Most men were conditioned not to kill, and that was why they came up withthe video games with shooting, because it was able to increase the shoot rate. And now we see what we have done with our kids. Now many adults. They think nothing of killing others. I don’t think that’s a good thing.
There was also this guy; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss I’m sure there were others.
PLEASE Help Stop Unnecessary Abortions
Please realize we all have a rare opportunity NOW to greatly help stop unnecessary abortions, especially late term abortion, by securing a pro-life Supreme Court judge. There have been over 30,000,000 abortions so far this year https://www.worldometers.info/abortions/
Some are even trying to make it legal to kill babies who survive abortions, “In light of the radical trend that started with the signing of the Reproductive Health Act by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.), allowing abortion through all stages of pregnancy and removing explicit protections for babies born alive following a failed abortion, there is renewed urgency to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” https://www.nrlc.org/federal/bornaliveinfants/nrlc-scorecard-letter-on-born-alive-abortion-survivors-protection-act-s-311/
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE AND VOTE IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE PRO LIFE PEOPLE IN OFFICE THIS NOVEMBER!
Voting
As I understand it – thousands of Amish, with only an 8th grade education could conceivably choose the president of the United States by deciding to vote for the candidate their leaders support?
Wow – you don’t have to follow the laws, don’t have to defend the country, but can help choose our political leaders! How is that still a thing?
Education is overrated today!!!
I am educated but believe some of the most educated people have the least amount of common sense. I worked at a University for many years and at one point with the gifted. They are brilliant, but when it comes to social issues, they are lacking much. And another argument; just look at all these college kids who cannot accept that they lost the election and are missing classes and claim to be “traumatized” by the outcome. While they are learned, they don’t have a clue about the world. Which leads to another issue that I won’t start; parenting!
Have you seen the work and spelling of highschoolers today?
I worked in a school district in the 90’s and I was in school in the 60’s and 70’s. We had better language education, we had better math, though i later learned some vedic math and was impressed. We learned more history. BUT the one I count the most is my mother who taught me phonics at 3 and had my reading comprehension to at least the 3rd grade level by the time I entered kindergarten. I had a 12th grade reading comprehension by 6th grade. I dropped out to avoid the sex, drugs and alcohol pressure of High school (14) and by then mom was taking us to pick our own textbooks at the Goodwill for 10 cents. I chose Latin, zoology, biology, Greek history, medical terminology, etc. i picked them because they looked interesting and i loved to learn. In the 1950’s the Fabian Socialists had gained enough control of our public school systems to eliminate the teaching of phonics for a phinetic language, and chose sight reading, designed for deaf students. When I hear a teacher telling someone to “guess” rather than “sound it out”, I know trhey have been teaching sight reading, which auses an enormous handicap. It prevents the student from really enjoying reading because they have to struggle instead of having a good foundation in phonics. Which by the way, includes learning Latin and Greek roots to words. And I was luckily learning those in 4th grade by my Old School teacher.
I knew a man in his 70;s that had come to California for work at the beginning of WWII, and he had a 4th grade education and he was much more educated and had a better ocabulary than any of the High School students whose work was posted up on the wall by the teachers. I saw work that would have been marked red and handed back to me if it was my work. I guess there is no such thing as training kids to do things right anymore or it will hurt their fragile little egos. And now you see why we have young people believing Marxists and rioting ,and burning and beating up old people. So my Friend Vernon, from Arkansas was smarter than trhese punks. He could fix anything. His wife would bring home electronics in the dumpster (she cleaned in an officer’s barracks) and he would have it playing music or running in an hour. He was amazing. I learned a lot about fixing my car from him, but I was working a lot so didn’t get to learn nearly enough.
So I would hazard a bet that those uneducated Amish have a LOT more math and reading than you do. They certainly can build, and they have all the life skills. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in people that can’t cook. That can’t do laundry, clean, bake, sew, basic stuff. They couldn’t do it if their lives depended on it. But what the Amish might understand , is this guy going to keep us free or is he going to clamp down on our freedom? Because we need our freedom if we are able to do ANYTHING in this world. IF they are reading their Bibles (and I know there are some that don’t, just like mainstream Christians)they can see the prophecies in the Bible, and the End Times are here now. It is more and more obvious. Just judging by the Bible.
Amish voting
So its not okay for peace-loving, God-fearing, law-abiding individuals to vote because of their beliefs. Just because someone doesn’t like wars or doesn’t wish to be in the military doesn’t preclude their right to vote. Basically what you are saying is that the only people that should be allowed to vote are people that have been in the military…that is not democracy. Of course…it sure would make it a lot easier for the Republicans to stay in office!
Maybe, except some military are Democrats
There have been times when th militaery have been softened, like during Obama, and Clinton, when soldiers are given time out tickets so they can rest. Well, in a war, WHEN are you going to rest? even Bush, the RINO and globalist softened the military.He allowed bibles to be burned when a soldier had them sent from home, with his own personal money, by his own church. He was in an islamic country and a family had requested them. But you can tell from his actions, Bush was no Christian. And if you read cathy Obreins’ work and site TRANCEformation of America and Sue Ford’s book Thanks for the Memories, Bush Sr and GW were pedophiles. They were abusive.
The Amish are a great asset to society in other ways and their forefathers and mothers sacrificed much to establish peace and freedom in the USA, some with their lives. There’s more than one way to do that. They did in their way for their posterity as well as others to be free to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. This election is so important, I hope they do vote this year to uphold the Rule of Law, but if not that’s their right and should be respected.
A Congressional Scorecard – Based on the US Constitution
https://www.thenewamerican.com/freedom-index
Voting equipment
I remember reading that the Amish were more likely to vote when lever machines were used, which ended in Pennsylvania about 2004, because no electricity was used in their operation. These days, you can vote from home via absentee ballot, which it would seem would increase the likelihood they would vote since it’s old paper and pencil and they can just mail the ballot back.
Lessons from the Amish
The anabaptists are a really good counterpoint to the mass insanity of the world today. They demonstrate the difficulty and benefit of following your conscience and seeking your own relationship with actual God, rather than being a participant in a mass movement/mass society. I was curious if Amish voted for this very reason. It makes sense that some do and some don’t. Thanks for the article.