Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 50th Illinois House district, according to a Kane County Reporter analysis.
The 50th District covers parts of Kane and Kendall counties in Illinois, including Yorkville. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 75,272 registered voters in the 50th District; 69,737 are private sector taxpayers and 5,535 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 46 percent for all voters. It was 59 percent for public employees and 77 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 61 percent. But 46 percent of public employees turned out, and 85 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 50
| Registered Voters: | 75,272 | |
| Government Employees | 3,849 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,686 | 2% |
| TOTAL: | 5,535 | 7% |
| 2014 Votes: | 34,495 | |
| Government Employees | 2,273 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,291 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,564 | 10% |
| 2012 Votes: | 45,741 | |
| Government Employees | 2,819 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,431 | 3% |
| TOTAL: | 4,250 | 9% |
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