In an election contested by only two candidates, one candidate got 30% of the total votes cast and lost by 500 votes. Determine the total number of votes that were cast in the elections?

1250

The correct answer is Option (3) → 1250

Let the total number of votes = x

Since there are only two candidates:

• One candidate got 30% votes
• The other got 70% votes

Difference in votes

$70\% - 30\% = 40\% \text{ of total votes}$

Given that the losing margin = 500 votes

$40\% \text{ of } x = 500$

$0.40x = 500$

$x = \frac{500}{0.40} = 1250$