AN overlooked group known for its aversion to voting in the swing state of Pennsylvania could unexpectedly hand Donald Trump the election.
The Amish – known for their hatred of electricity, love for raw milk, and dog breeding – have been galvanised to head to the polls and turn the battle ground red.
Members of the Old Order Amish community gather for a political rally with TrumpRex
EPAAn Amish girl stands near a vendor stand at a Trump rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania[/caption]
AFPAn Amish horse-drawn buggy passes by signs reading ‘Stop Illegal Voting’ and ‘Trump 2024’ signs in Strasburg, Pennsylvania[/caption]
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 100,000 Amish people – mostly located in the counties next to Philadelphia.
The community has famously rejected most pillars of modern society, including cars, phones – and famously, voting.
The Amish, who traditionally live in isolation, have typically rejected the government in favor of God and religion.
But this seemed to change with the emergence of Trump and the national importance of Pennsylvania.
Their home state, and its 19 electoral college votes, has become one of seven swing states in 2024 that hold the future of the country in its hands.
Both Trump and Kamala Harris spent election eve holding rallies in Pennsylvania.
And Trump appeared on stage in Lancaster County on Sunday, where around half of the state’s Amish population lives.
This state and its large number of electoral college votes is key as it gives both Trump and Harris a pathway to the 270 votes needed to secure The White House.
For example, if Harris won Pennsylvania she would likely need just 25 votes to get the win.
If Trump’s camp took Pennsylvania, he would then need 32 electoral college votes if he secures the other states he is already expected to win.
The Mid-Atlantic state was a key battleground in 2020 as Joe Biden won it by just over 80,000 votes out of almost seven million.
2024 is set to be even tighter as pollsters are currently predicting a dead-even race in the state, according to Forbes.
Governor Josh Shapiro has even described Lancaster County as the “swingiest of all swing counties in the swingiest of all swing states”.
This means any number of votes could push the vote either way – and a resurgence of even a few of Pennsylvania’s 100,000 Amish community could spell bad news for The Democrats.
Amish-born Congressman Lloyd Smucker, who represents the district which includes Lancaster County, revealed how members of his community have been politically awakened in 2024.
Smucker told Fox News: “Four years ago, we probably had about 1,500 – 2,000 new Amish registrants and new Amish voters.
“I think we are going to see thousands more this cycle. I just base that on lots of conversations that I have had with the Amish, on meetings that we’ve had.”
The congressman suggested members of the sect believe Trump would align with their beliefs on religious liberty, isolationism, border control, and the economy.
Members of the Old Order Amish community gather for a Trump in Latrobe, PennsylvaniaRex
AlamyAn Amish man enthusiastically waves a Trump campaign sign at a rally in 2016[/caption]
APRep. Lloyd Smucker speaks before Trump at a campaign rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania[/caption]
Despite the Republican’s work to mobilize and get the Amish voting, one of their many customs could prevent this from happening.
Traditionally this sect has held weddings on Tuesdays in the Fall with hundreds of guests in attendance.
As there’s little to no farm work from October until March, they take advantage of the free time to have weddings – and they’re held on a Tuesday or Thursday due to the availability of bench wagons.
It means any soon-to-be married Amish couples, wedding guests, or bishops might be too busy to head to the polls.
But if they make it to the polls, another incentive for the Amish to vote Trump is the treatment of a local dairy farmer Amos Miller.
Miller’s farm was raided by state officials in January for selling unpasteurized milk.
He was banned from selling raw milk – which is a hugely popular practice for the Amish.
Congressman Smucker said the Miller case was just one example of the Amish’s pushback against officials.
He added: “They don’t want intrusion of government at all and there are plenty of examples where they’re being required to do things that they would rather not do.”
One man’s mission
A conservative activist named Scott Presler has seemingly taken on the difficult task of getting the Amish to register to vote.
Despite the difficult mission, Presler has hit Pennsylvania’s roads and crowds to highlight the importance of this sect for The Republicans.
At a Pennsylvania rally, he echoed these Amish worries about milk and religion.
He said: “To our beautiful Amish in Lancaster and across the state we will protect your right to raw milk, your dairy, your farming, your school choice, your religious freedom, your ability to afford to have ten beautiful children per family.”
Despite his work for the sect, Presler himself was embroiled in a seemingly un-Amish sex scandal in 2016 and has stirred controversy for allegedly helping spread conspiracy theories, according to NBC News.
One of these was his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.
His controversies have also appeared to put the GOP off as the Republican National Committee confirmed on Tuesday that it would not hire the conservative personality.
This came after the RNC’s new co-chair, Lara Trump, said she was interested in employing Presler last week.
RexAn Amish man who pledged to drive friends to vote in election day signs the Trump Bus[/caption]
Amish people seen among supporters at a Trump speech in 2020Rex
InstagramConservative activist Scott Presler has taken on the task of getting the Amish to register to vote[/caption]
AFPA young Amish man stacks straw bales on a trailer in Strasburg, Pennsylvania[/caption]