Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners more than nine to one in the 108th Illinois House district, according to a Metro East Sun analysis.
The 108th District covers parts of Madison, Clinton, Washington, and St. Clair Counties in the Metro East. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Charles E. Meier (R-Okawville).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 78,218 registered voters in the 108th District; 72,722 are private sector taxpayers and 5,496 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 67 percent for public employees and 80 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 64 percent. But 67 percent of public employees turned out, and 89 percent of public pensioners.
| Registered Voters: | 78,218 | |
| Government Employees | 3,469 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,027 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 5,496 | 7% |
| 2014 Votes: | 37,554 | |
| Government Employees | 2,334 | 7% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,620 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,954 | 11% |
| 2012 Votes: | 50,003 | |
| Government Employees | 2,725 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,797 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 4,522 | 9% |
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