Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners more than nine to one in the 91st Illinois House district, according to a Peoria Standard analysis.
The 91st District covers parts of Peoria, Tazewell and Fulton Counties in Central Illinois, including East Peoria, Pekin and Canton. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Michael D. Unes (R- East Peoria).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 79,701 registered voters in the 91st District; 72,519 are private sector taxpayers and 7,182 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 51 percent for all voters. It was 66 percent for public employees and 79 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 64 percent, 49 percent of public employees turned out, and 88 percent of public pensioners.
| Registered Voters: | 70,256 | |
| Government Employees | 3,026 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,098 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 5,124 | 7% |
| 2014 Votes: | 30,155 | |
| Government Employees | 1,788 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,564 | 5% |
| TOTAL: | 3,352 | 11% |
| 2012 Votes: | 40,911 | |
| Government Employees | 2,184 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,785 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,696 | 9% |
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