Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners nearly 20 to one in the 53rd Illinois House district, according to a North Cook News analysis.
The 53rd District covers parts of Cook counties in Illinois, including Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 70,872 registered voters in the 53rd District; 66,322 are private sector taxpayers and 4,550 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 52 percent for all voters. It was 66 percent for public employees and 81 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 67 percent. But 53 percent of public employees turned out, and 89 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 53
| Registered Voters: | 70,872 | |
| Government Employees | 2,701 | 4% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,849 | 2.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,550 | 6.5% |
| 2014 Votes: | 36,679 | |
| Government Employees | 1,782 | 5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,499 | 4% |
| TOTAL: | 3,281 | 9% |
| 2012 Votes: | 47,516 | |
| Government Employees | 2,151 | 4.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,653 | 3.5% |
| TOTAL: | 3,804 | 8% |
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