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Answer: (C) 101000
Explanation
Let the total number of registered voters be x. Since 5% of voters did not cast their vote, the number of votes cast is 0.95x. Out of these cast votes, 10% were invalid or NOTA, meaning the total valid votes are 90% of 0.95x, which equals 0.90 × 0.95x = 0.855x. The winning candidate received 60% of these valid votes. In a contest between two candidates, the losing candidate therefore received the remaining 40% of the valid votes. The winning margin is the difference between these shares, which is 60% - 40% = 20% of the valid votes. Given the winning margin is 17,271 votes, the equation is 0.20 × 0.855x = 17,271. Simplifying the left side gives 0.171x = 17,271. Dividing 17,271 by 0.171 results in x = 101,000.