EGN NEWS DESK
At Brethren Village, in a retirement neighborhood with historic ties to the Church of the Brethren, voters of all ages quietly milled out and in of a chapel that had been transformed right into a polling location. Decked out in a go well with, vivid pink tie and golden cross necklace, Stephen Shenk mentioned he forged his poll for Trump. So did Madison Bellanca, who stood subsequent to him.
“The large factor for me is the border and the financial system,” Shenk mentioned. “I really feel the border was loads safer throughout Trump’s reign in 2016, and I additionally really feel the financial system was in a greater spot. We’re a youthful era that is seeking to purchase a house, and it is change into far more tough to purchase a house previously 4 years than it was beforehand.”
Describing himself solely as a Christian, Shenk mentioned he attends Victory Church, a close-by evangelical congregation, and that his religion “undoubtedly performs a job” in how he votes.
“My morals stand with numerous insurance policies that Donald Trump falls underneath, and the Republican Party as an entire,” he mentioned.
Standing close by along with his canine was John Byers, who mentioned he voted for Harris. He has supported Republicans in previous elections, he mentioned, however Trump was a bridge too far this 12 months.
“After Jan. 6, I am unable to vote for Trump,” he mentioned, referring to the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Byers defined that, as a member of a neighborhood Church of the Brethren congregation, he has helped resettle refugees within the area by means of Church World Service, considered one of six faith-based teams that companion with the federal authorities to assist resettle refugees. The expertise made him cautious of Trump’s plans to implement mass deportation.
“After working so arduous to resettle individuals on this nation, I do not wish to see a bunch of individuals deported,” Byers mentioned.
Both candidates leaned on religion within the waning days of the marketing campaign, calling on spiritual voters to assist them. Trump, who hosted a rally in Lancaster on Monday, his remaining day of campaigning, targeted on evangelicals, a constituency that has lengthy supported him. Harris appealed to a number of spiritual teams, together with Black Protestants and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Questions about Trump’s character resonated with Rhoda Mast, a voter at Brethren Village on Tuesday who mentioned she backed Harris. She was involved about Trump’s character, she mentioned, noting she “couldn’t vote for a convicted felon.” What’s extra, Mast mentioned, her Mennonite beliefs precluded her from supporting a candidate recognized for recurrently spreading falsehoods.
“We imagine, as individuals of religion, as Christians, we have to inform the reality and be type and be trustworthy and love everybody, not simply Americans,” Mast mentioned.
Down the road at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, the place Diana, who requested to solely be recognized by her first title, mentioned she voted for Trump. Standing exterior the church round noon as a trickle of voters filed in on their lunch hour, she mentioned Trump — who, like her, identifies as a nondenominational Christian — “stands extra for our biblical beliefs and our Christian beliefs.”
Following her out of the church was Neil Wilson, a well being care employee and veteran. He mentioned he sat out the 2020 election however did not wish to miss it this go-round, so he forged his poll for Harris.
“I similar to what she’s representing — the individuals, the center class. It evokes me to get out and vote,” Wilson mentioned. Raised in a Baptist household that included a pastor as an uncle, he mentioned his religion impressed him “to get out and attempt to make a distinction this 12 months, simply to assume that my vote will depend.”
Over on the funeral dwelling polling station, Katie Pasic, a Catholic, mentioned she believes abortion “is horrible” however forged her vote for Harris, who has made defending abortion rights a spotlight of her marketing campaign.
“I do not assume anyone wakes up within the morning considering ‘I’d like to have an abortion,'” mentioned Pasic, whose husband, an agnostic, additionally voted for Harris. “I am unable to converse for all Catholics, however I really feel such as you may be anti-abortion, however pro-choice.”
Although the Catholic Church formally opposes abortion, nearly all of U.S. Catholics imagine abortion must be authorized in all or most instances, in keeping with a number of polls.
Not everybody was comfy discussing their vote. One couple refused to disclose the contents of their poll, however solely as a result of they “cancel one another out” and “did not wish to get into it” in entrance of a reporter.
Another couple, Jenna and Alex Moyer, mentioned they not too long ago moved to Lancaster County from Philadelphia and attend a nondenominational church. But whereas Alex Moyer mentioned he believes “Judeo-Christian ethics” inform who he thinks “will make chief for our nation,” he declined to say who that could be.
Jenna Moyer was equally reticent, saying, “We simply wish to see the nation be led in a approach that helps our values, but in addition permits there to be good morals and values for our youngsters to be introduced up in.”
Both additionally insisted protection depicting the Pennsylvania citizens as deeply divided is overblown.
“When you stroll the streets, fairly often individuals are treating each other with dignity and respect,” Jenna Moyer mentioned.
For others, religion wasn’t an element in any respect. Royce Stout, who recognized as Christian and wore a shirt emblazoned with a founding-era American flag, mentioned he voted for Trump as a result of he needs “a safe border.” Asked if his religion knowledgeable his vote, he supplied a one-word response: “No.”
Walking away within the different course from the funeral dwelling, Amar and Vara Nuri mentioned they voted for Trump. “We wish to see adjustments, we obtained uninterested in Democrats,” mentioned Amar Nuri. Vara Nuri, standing beside him in a headband, nodded in settlement. But each insisted their religion didn’t play a job within the choice.
But faith was a giant a part of what drove others to the polls. At the UCC church, Evony Otero mentioned she was raised Catholic however now identifies merely as Christian. Ahead of her vote, Otero mentioned, she had a “couple conversations with God about it,” however is now “assured” in her choice.
“I’m a lady. I’m a single mother. I do know what it is prefer to wrestle. I do know what it is prefer to really feel like your again is in opposition to the wall,” she mentioned. “I wished any individual who I can relate to, that has been in possibly that very same scenario, or a member of the family of theirs has went by means of the identical factor too.”
She was voting for Harris, she mentioned, and leaving the remaining as much as God.
“We’re simply gonna put it in his fingers,” she mentioned.
© Religion News Service
