Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners over nine to one in the 61st Illinois House district, according to a Lake County Gazette analysis.
The 61st District covers parts of Lake County, Illinois, including Antioch, Gurnee and Zion. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Gurnee).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 72,666 registered voters in the 61st District; 67,573 are private sector taxpayers and 5,093 state or local government employees or pensioners.
The analysis comes amidst a raging debate over rising state and local government payroll spending and massive public pension debts, incurred unbeknownst to many local elected officials and taxpayers.
While they represent a small percentage of the overall vote, state and local government employees and pensioners do vote at higher rate than the average voter.
According to the analysis, voter turnout in 2014 was 43 percent for all voters. It was 61 percent for public employees and 76 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 60 percent. But 46 percent of public employees turned out, and 87 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 61
| Registered Voters: | 72,666 | |
| Government Employees | 3,566 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,527 | 2% |
| TOTAL: | 5,093 | 7% |
| 2014 Votes: | 31,009 | |
| Government Employees | 2,188 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,168 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,356 | 10% |
| 2012 Votes: | 43,911 | |
| Government Employees | 2,797 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,325 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 4,122 | 9% |
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