Question from an exam.

[WLDB]

The prof of my "Canadian Political Institutions" class put a bonus question into the final exam in the form of a riddle. I couldn't figure it out but am wondering what it means. Hopefully someone here will be able to figure it out.

A referendum motion did not pass. However if more people had voted against it, it would have passed. How come?

Ive been thinking about this all day and have nothing.

 

[Nuggler]

It had to be a question based on the negative or framed in negative terms.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

That was my thought too, a question that requires a "No" answer to pass. For instance, how about a Quebec sovereignty referendum question like, "Should Quebec remain a province of Canada?"

 

[taxslave]

Something like "DO you want marijuana to remain illegal?" If enough people voted no it would become legal.

 

[MHz]

A better question would be. If a referendum was held on all bills would more people be politically smart and would all the bills that have passed in the last 10 years still have passed. (both if the referendum was held at the time and if a referendum alone had the power to resend any bill if held within 10 years)

 

[TenPenny]

I would assume that the referendum question needed a certain percentage of the eligible voters to actually vote, so even though most votes were for it, there weren't enough votes cast to make it legally pass.

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Should referendums be irrelevant?

or something along those lines...limiting the use of, and power of a referendum...