Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly 20 to one in the 73rd Illinois House district, according to a Peoria Standard analysis.
The 73rd District covers parts of Bureau, Lasalle, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties in Illinois, including Peoria. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. David Leitch (R-Peoria).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 79,277 registered voters in the 73rd District; 73,677 are private sector taxpayers and 5,600 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 60 percent for public employees and 75 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 63 percent. But 50 percent of public employees turned out, and 87 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 73
| Registered Voters: | 79,277 | |
| Government Employees | 3,289 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,311 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 5,600 | 7% |
| 2014 Votes: | 37,392 | |
| Government Employees | 1,984 | 5.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,744 | 4.5% |
| TOTAL: | 3,728 | 10% |
| 2012 Votes: | 49,618 | |
| Government Employees | 2,480 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,012 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 4,492 | 9% |
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