Evan Urquhart

the primary system is broken. but eyes on the prize instead of voting "personal conscience" this time?

The national system is even more broken. My voting for Biden (or whoever) in California won't help the candidate, because the electoral college system means my vote will be lumped into a state everyone already knows will go for the Democrat.

The main reason I've voted for third parties in the past is because the "speech" of not voting for one of the two major parties in such a bad system seemed more powerful than just casting a vote that didn't count.

But yes, if it will somehow make people feel better, I'll cast a vote that doesn't count this time. If in some small way my irrelevant vote sets an example for others like me who live in states where the votes do count, and helps them vote for the Dem, then sure, I'll do it.

or don't vote--like the "rational choice" academics at Stanford who say their individual vote doesn't count.

Oh definitely. Like the time Hillary Clinton lied about the cost/benefits of single payor, and I decided not to vote for her.

Politicians make a calculation with statements like that- that they'll win over more voters than they'll lose. Functionally, Clinton was saying she didn't care if I voted for her, letting me know she'd make up the vote with folks who were worried about their taxes.