Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners over 20 to one in the 42nd Illinois House district, according to a DuPage Policy Journal analysis.
The 42nd District covers parts of Dupage County in Illinois, including Carol Stream, Lisle, Naperville and Wheaton. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 83,336 registered voters in the 42nd District; 78,417 are private sector taxpayers and 4,919 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 47 percent for all voters. It was 67 percent for public employees and 76 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 62 percent. But 54 percent of public employees turned out, and 85 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 42
| Registered Voters: | 83,336 | |
| Government Employees | 2,936 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,983 | 2% |
| TOTAL: | 4,919 | 6% |
| | | |
| 2014 Votes | 39,331 | |
| Government Employees | 1,957 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,511 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,468 | 9% |
| | | |
| 2012 Votes | 51,563 | |
| Government Employees | 2,306 | 4.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,695 | 3.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,001 | 8% |
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