Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly 20 to one in the 75th Illinois House district, according to a Illinois Valley Times analysis.
The 75th District covers parts of Grundy, Kendall, Lasalle and Will counties in Illinois, including Morris. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. David Welter (R-Morris).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 75,549 registered voters in the 75th District; 72,067 are private sector taxpayers and 3,482 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 45 percent for all voters. It was 62 percent for public employees and 78 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 56 percent. But 35 percent of public employees turned out, and 84 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 75
| Registered Voters: | 75,549 | |
| Government Employees | 3,482 | 4.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,850 | 2.5% |
| TOTAL: | 5,332 | 7% |
| 2014 Votes: | 33,852 | |
| Government Employees | 2,164 | 6.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,439 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,603 | 10.5% |
| 2012 Votes: | 42,417 | |
| Government Employees | 2,559 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,557 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 4,116 | 10% |
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