• limelight79@lemm.ee
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    5 months ago

    The elections are run by the states, not the federal government. Congress keeps working during a shutdown. I can’t see how it would hinder the election.

    It would have unpredictable effects on the election though, so I can’t imagine they really want to risk it.

    • A Phlaming Phoenix@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      Yeah, the elections get operated at the state level, but don’t you still need an employed VP to count/register them?

        • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Another impact is that it can drive top talent away from the government (potentially by design from certain political dispositions). Would you work somewhere that doesn’t pay you or delays paychecks?

          Of all the reasons I avoid working for the government this is pretty far down the list.

      • limelight79@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        On January 6, yes, but they don’t stop working. The shutdown only affects the rank and file government employees that do things like run the government agencies, air traffic control*, Smithsonians, etc.

        *Air traffic controllers would be considered an essential function, so they would actually get the joy of continuing to work without pay, until a budget is passed, then they would get back pay. (There’s also a possibility of some agencies having money, for various reasons, to continue to pay essential employees.)