Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly nine to one in the 87th Illinois House district, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis.
The 87th District covers parts of Logan, Menard, Sangamon and Tazewell counties in Illinois, including Lincoln and Springfield. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 72,663 registered voters in the 87th District; 65,419 are private sector taxpayers and 7,244 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 50 percent for all voters. It was 69 percent for public employees and 79 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 62 percent. But 63 percent of public employees turned out, and 87 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 87
| Registered Voters: | 72,663 | |
| Government Employees | 7,244 | 10% |
| Government Pensioners | 3,848 | 5% |
| TOTAL: | 11,092 | 15% |
| 2014 Votes: | 36,365 | |
| Government Employees | 5,032 | 16% |
| Government Pensioners | 3,031 | 8% |
| TOTAL: | 8,063 | 22% |
| 2012 Votes: | 44,969 | |
| Government Employees | 5,508 | 12.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 3,359 | 7.5% |
| TOTAL: | 8,867 | 20% |
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