Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly 20 to one in the 64th Illinois House district, according to a McHenry Times analysis.
The 64th District covers parts of Lake and McHenry counties in Illinois, including Crystal Lake, Lake Villa and McHenry. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 78,052 registered voters in the 64th District; 72,990 are private sector taxpayers and 5,062 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 44 percent for all voters. It was 60 percent for public employees and 76 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 59 percent. But 44 percent of public employees turned out, and 85 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 64
| Registered Voters: | 78,052 | |
| Government Employees | 3,340 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,722 | 2% |
| TOTAL: | 5,062 | 6% |
| 2014 Votes: | 34,082 | |
| Government Employees | 2,014 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,308 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,322 | 10% |
| 2012 Votes: | 45,838 | |
| Government Employees | 2,510 | 5.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,462 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 3,972 | 8.5% |
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