>Voting isn't a lottery game, you're not trying to use your vote to predict the outcome. You use it to voice your opinion. No, it's not a lottery game. But it'

>Voting isn't a lottery game, you're not trying to use your vote to predict the outcome. You use it to voice your opinion. No, it's not a lottery game. But it's nevertheless desirable to have the best possible ball park estimate of the situation before voting. E.g., if the candidates of the major parties are Bad and Worse, and you are certain that Worse is going to win, then you vote Libertarian (or for whatever your favorite third party). Worse wins, but at least you will have contributed to the protest vote total. However, if you are not certain, then you'd better vote for Bad, because voting for the Losertarian is only going to help elect Worse! That's what I mean by "influence the outcome". >And in parliamentary procedure, abstaining from voting is a valid option, and it is not a waste of a vote. You are specifically going on record as not approving of the choice being provided. A parliamentary body is a totally different situation. Many fewer voters. Much more frequent votes. And the votes are on the record, the voters having advocated their positions as effectively as they can.