Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners 20 to one in the 81st Illinois House district, according to a DuPage Policy Journal analysis.
The 81st District covers parts of Dupage and Will counties in Illinois, including Downers Grove, Naperville and Woodridge. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. David Olsen (R-Downers Grove).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 82,485 registered voters in the 81st District; 77,977 are private sector taxpayers and 4,508 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 65 percent for public employees and 76 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 61 percent. But 51 percent of public employees turned out, and 86 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 81
| Registered Voters: | 82,485 | |
| Government Employees | 2,676 | 3% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,832 | 2% |
| TOTAL: | 4,508 | 5% |
| 2014 Votes: | 38,645 | |
| Government Employees | 1,731 | 4.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,399 | 3.5% |
| TOTAL: | 3,130 | 8% |
| 2012 Votes: | 50,587 | |
| Government Employees | 2,029 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,577 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 3,606 | 7% |
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