With only two weeks left until the presidential election, Amish communities are experiencing déjà vu.
That is because efforts are higher than ever to encourage voting among a population that’s traditionally refrained from doing so.
Historically, the Amish are family-centric, with religious and cultural traditions that shape their political views. Their faith-based convictions regarding violence, power and political engagement often keep them away from the polls.
Though voter registration recruitment efforts remain high, it’s difficult to estimate how many members of the Amish community sign up. Nearly 400,000 exist nationwide across 654 individual settlements. The largest populations are recorded in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, according to the Young Center for Amish Studies.