That extra decimal point

I found the article by Alfred Mifsud (March 12) very absorbing. Rarely have I come across such sound argumentation and assumptions based no doubt on profound wisdom. I must, however, disagree with one of the scientific assumptions made by Mr Mifsud.

I found the article by Alfred Mifsud (March 12) very absorbing. Rarely have I come across such sound argumentation and assumptions based no doubt on profound wisdom.

I must, however, disagree with one of the scientific assumptions made by Mr Mifsud. The blessed "one third" adjustment to the meaningful absentees. You see, the article in question mentioned two peculiarities regarding the past referendum, therefore, surely a more rigorous scientific basis for an assumption to be made must be to allocate a third to each peculiarity, (i.e.) two thirds, here goes:

Registered votes: 297,881 Less two thirds non-meaningful absentees: 19,838 Adjusted meaningful registered voters: 278,043 Yes votes: 143,094 Yes votes as % of the adjusted meaningful voters: 51.46%

We have the blessed majority again! I carried out my scientific calculation just as Mr Mifsud did, "bottom up".

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