Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 37th Illinois House district, according to a Will County Gazette analysis.
The 37th District covers parts of Cook and Will counties in Illinois, including Mokena, New Lenox and Orland Park. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 74,348 registered voters in the 37th District; 68,909 are private sector taxpayers and 5,439 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 53 percent for all voters. It was 64 percent for public employees and 83 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 66 percent. But 47 percent of public employees turned out, and 89 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 37
| Registered Voters: | 74,348 | |
| Government Employees | 3,433 | 4.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,006 | 2.5% |
| TOTAL: | 5,439 | 7% |
| | | |
| 2014 Votes: | 39,083 | |
| Government Employees | 2,207 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,658 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,865 | 10% |
| | | |
| 2012 Votes: | 48,879 | |
| Government Employees | 2,593 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,793 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 4,386 | 9% |
Alerts Sign-up