"The number of people choosing to vote by mail has risen dramatically in the state since the outbreak began, due to efforts to minimise the spread..."

[hardyweineberg]

"The number of people choosing to vote by mail has risen dramatically in the state since the outbreak began, due to efforts to minimise the spread of the virus. In 2018, only 6 percent of voters cast their ballot by mail. In primary elections this April, during which stay-at-home orders were in place, that number rose to more than 60 percent."

Source:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...-supreme-court-us-election-trump-b422759.html


1) Is it correct to use "that number" used to refer to "6 percent"? 6% is not a number; it's a proportion or percentage. So I am very confused about why the writer of the above article thought "that number" was a proper synonym for "6 percent".

2) Also, is "share" a good synonym? That is, is saying "...that share rose to..." correct? It seems "share" and "proportion" have almost the same meaning.

 

[emsr2d2]

1) Is it correct to use "that number" used to refer to "6 percent"?

2) Also, is "share" a good synonym?

1. Yes.
2. It's not wrong but the original is fine as it is.

 

[SoothingDave]

6 is a number. 60 is a number.