Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 109th Illinois House district, according to a East Central Reporter analysis.
The 109th District covers parts of Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Kendall, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties in Illinois. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. David Reis (R-Willow Hill).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 76,660 registered voters in the 109th District; 70,739 are private sector taxpayers and 5,921 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 48 percent for all voters. It was 70 percent for public employees and 78 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 60 percent. But 53 percent of public employees turned out, and 89 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 109
| Registered Voters: | 76,660 | |
| Government Employees | 3,620 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,301 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 5,921 | 8% |
| | | |
| 2014 Votes: | 36,691 | |
| Government Employees | 2,516 | 7% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,802 | 5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,318 | 12% |
| | | |
| 2012 Votes: | 45,638 | |
| Government Employees | 2,882 | 6.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,050 | 4.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,932 | 11% |
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