In an election between two candidates, the defeated candidate secured 42% of the valid votes polled and lost the election by 7,68,400 votes. If 82,560 votes were declared invalid and 20% people did NOT cast their vote, then the invalid votes were what percentage (rounded off to 1 decimal place) of the votes which people did NOT cast?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4. i.e. 6.8 Percent.
Given:
Percentage of votes of defeated candidate = 42% and lost election by 7,68,400 votes
Invalid votes = 82,560
20% people did not cast their votes.
Explanation:
Total valid votes by winning candidate = (100 - 42) = 58%
Percentage difference between winner and loser = (58 - 42) = 16%
The total number of valid votes = 7,68,400 ÷ 16% = 4802500
Total number of votes (valid + invalid) = 4802500 + 82560 = 4885060
Total number of voter = 4885060 ÷ (100 - 20)% = 4885060 ÷ 80% = 6106325
Number of people who didn't cast vote = 6106325 × 20% = 1221265
Now, required percentage = (82560/1221265) × 100 = 6.7602 ≈ 6.8%
Hence the required percentage = 6.8%.