There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding the Amish that don’t stand up to scrutiny. Despite their reputation, they don’t shun technology or cars as much as you might think. Some laborers even use battery-powered tools and basic computers for their businesses, while others hitch rides in vehicles if needed. One stereotype that’s accurate, however, is the fact that Amish don’t like having their picture taken. So what do they do about the photo ID cards needed for everything from voting to writing checks? Unless you’re getting a mug shot, photographs aren’t really necessary, so it’s easy enough for the Amish to avoid a camera lens. The entire point of a photo ID is to provide proof of identity, but lawmakers have taken steps to avoid infringing on the religious practice of the Amish. Virginia passed legislation that permitted IDs to be issued without a photo, with 14 other states having similar laws on the books. The cards without photos can’t, however, be used for voting or driving, something the Amish don't do anyway. Within the past decade or two, the Amish community has found itself increasingly inconvenienced when IDs have been needed to buy cold medicine or pesticides, or for other once-mundane activities that have come under increased regulation. In 2015, an Amish man filed a federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania after he was unable to purchase a firearm without photo ID. Other states have introduced legislation that would permit those with religious exemptions to buy guns without photo ID.
