Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 115th Illinois House district, according to a Metro East Sun analysis.
The 115th District covers parts of Jackson, Jefferson, Union, Perry and Washington counties, including Mount Vernon and Murphysboro. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Terri Bryant (R- Macomb).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 80,465 registered voters in the 112th District; 72,220 are private sector taxpayers and 8,245 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 44 percent for all voters. It was 70 percent for public employees and 80 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 54 percent. But 62 percent of public employees turned out, and 87 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 115
| Registered Voters: | 80,465 | |
| Government Employees | 5,198 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 3,047 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 8,171 | 12% |
| 2014 Votes: | 35,578 | |
| Government Employees | 3,628 | 10% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,425 | 7% |
| TOTAL: | 6,053 | 17% |
| 2012 Votes: | 43,792 | |
| Government Employees | 3,989 | 9% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,645 | 6% |
| TOTAL: | 6,634 | 15% |
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