Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 95th Illinois House district, according to a Metro East Sun analysis.
The 95th District covers parts of Christian, Macoupin, Madison and Montgomery counties in Illinois, including Taylorville. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 71,837 registered voters in the 95th District; 64,811 are private sector taxpayers and 7,026 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 48 percent for all voters. It was 70 percent for public employees and 79 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 60 percent. But 56 percent of public employees turned out, and 88 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 95
| Registered Voters: | 71,837 | |
| Government Employees | 4,380 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,646 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 7,026 | 10% |
| 2014 Votes: | 34,353 | |
| Government Employees | 3,054 | 9% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,088 | 6% |
| TOTAL: | 5,142 | 15% |
| 2012 Votes: | 43,095 | |
| Government Employees | 3,389 | 8% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,323 | 5% |
| TOTAL: | 5,712 | 13% |
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