The Scottish devolution referendum, 1979, had to have a minimum threshold of 40% of the population voting yes. Furthermore, the Clarity Act of Canada implying

The Scottish devolution referendum, 1979, had to have a minimum threshold of 40% of the population voting yes. Furthermore, the Clarity Act of Canada implying some sort of 'quorum' by stating "Giving the House of Commons the power to determine whether or not a clear majority had expressed itself following any referendum vote, implying that some sort of supermajority is required for success" for the independance of a province of Canada, but generally thought of as Quebec. There is the legal principle of maintaining the 'status quo' and the preponderance of maintaining the status quo to maintaining a stable and governable society. My contention is that if 26% of the populace can decide the destiny of the wider society, and by a very slim margin, then democracy has not been served. If it was 26% to 10% that would be a different story, but it was not, it was 26% to 25% and that is a very slim margin indeed.