As you point out, it makes no rational sense to vote, the personal effort isn't worth increasing the probability that your preferred candidate will win by epsil

As you point out, it makes no rational sense to vote, the personal effort isn't worth increasing the probability that your preferred candidate will win by epsilon. Not only is the expected benefit small, but that benefit is all socialized. People vote either out of sheer ignorance/unthinking of this reality, or because it makes them feel emotionally good (a sense of duty to society, entitlement to virtue signal at dinner parties, or whatever). I'm not complaining, if people want to provide an uncompensated service to society, that's great.