Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly 20 to one in the 45th Illinois House district, according to a DuPage Policy Journal analysis.
The 45th District covers parts of Cook and Dupage counties in Illinois, including Bartlett and Bloomingdale. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Christine Winger (R-Wood Dale).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 75,103 registered voters in the 45th District; 71,814 are private sector taxpayers and 3,289 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 43 percent for all voters. It was 59 percent for public employees and 75 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 58 percent. But 40 percent of public employees turned out, and 83 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 45
| Registered Voters: | 75,103 | |
| Government Employees | 2,059 | 2.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,230 | 1.5% |
| TOTAL: | 3,289 | 4% |
| 2014 Votes: | 31,978 | |
| Government Employees | 1,219 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 924 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 2,143 | 7% |
| 2012 Votes: | 43,280 | |
| Government Employees | 1,520 | 3.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,027 | 2.5% |
| TOTAL: | 2,547 | 6% |
Alerts Sign-up