Tuesday, there were several news stories lamenting the poor turnout for Saturday’s election.

One comment in an AP story caught my eye:

Some 40,239 people voted last week during Louisiana’s “early voting” period ­ not even 1 percent of those eligible, according to official elections statistics.

As a graduate of the LA Public Schools, I am obviously educationally-challenged.

According to the story there are 2.9 million voters eligible to cast their votes on Saturday.

Here’s where I need some help.

In order to determine what percentage of the eligible voters who voted in “early voting,” what I was taught at Newellton High is that I take 40,239 and divide it by 2,900,000. However, the number I get using all my fingers and toes is 1.38%.

Can someone tell me how to get not even 1 percent?

C.B.