Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners over nine to one in the 65th Illinois House district, according to a McHenry Times analysis.
The 65th District covers parts of Kane and Mchenry counties in Illinois, including Elgin, South Elgin and St Charles. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Steve Andersson (R-Geneva).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 80,185 registered voters in the 65th District; 73,977 are private sector taxpayers and 6,208 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 46 percent for all voters. It was 57 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 81 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 65
| Registered Voters: | 80,185 | |
| Government Employees | 3,619 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,589 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 6,208 | 8% |
| 2014 Votes: | 37,238 | |
| Government Employees | 2,079 | 5.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,980 | 5.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,059 | 11% |
| 2012 Votes: | 47,732 | |
| Government Employees | 2,518 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,105 | 4.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,623 | 9.5% |
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