in just this way, to say that
    a total of N persons participated in the vote (or survey or
    experiment).  If N is very small, critics will have good
    reason to dismiss the significance of the vote (etc.),
    no matter what the outcome.  To use the participation
    of the abstainers toward the validity of the vote
    without giving due consideration to their doubts
    is a form of exploitation, pure and simple.

FF: Regarding the sample size, I'm in agreement
    that the *response* to a ballot 