Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 107th Illinois House district, according to a Southeast Illinois News analysis.
The 107th District covers parts of Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette and Marion counties in Illinois, including Centralia and Effingham. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. John Cavaletto (R-Salem).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 73,983 registered voters in the 107th District; 67,532 are private sector taxpayers and 6,451state 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 69 percent for public employees and 76 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 58 percent. But 56 percent of public employees turned out, and 86 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 107
| Registered Voters: | 73,983 | |
| Government Employees | 4,008 | 5.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,443 | 3.5% |
| TOTAL: | 6,451 | 9% |
| | | |
| 2014 Votes: | 33,423 | |
| Government Employees | 2,754 | 8% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,858 | 6% |
| TOTAL: | 4,612 | 14% |
| | | |
| 2012 Votes: | 42,869 | |
| Government Employees | 3,145 | 7% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,109 | 5% |
| TOTAL: | 5,254 | 12% |
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