If issue Z is highly important to you and you vote on the basis of the party’s attitude to it, how does the party know this if the only thing you do is silently drop your ballot?
Provided that one exists. And provided that it isn’t completely screwed up about issues A to Y. And provided you are willing to sacrifice the rest of your political signaling power to a signal about Z.
If you’re lucky enough to be in a country with preferential voting, there’s usually a handful of 3rd parties with various policies (with published preferences so you know where the vote will ‘actually’ end up). So you’ll at least have the opportunity to cast a few bits of information, rather than a single bit.
Vote for a third party that cares about Z.
Provided that one exists. And provided that it isn’t completely screwed up about issues A to Y. And provided you are willing to sacrifice the rest of your political signaling power to a signal about Z.
If you’re lucky enough to be in a country with preferential voting, there’s usually a handful of 3rd parties with various policies (with published preferences so you know where the vote will ‘actually’ end up). So you’ll at least have the opportunity to cast a few bits of information, rather than a single bit.
Obligatory Ken the Voting Dingo comic about how it’s not possible to waste your vote: http://chickennation.com/website_stuff/cant-waste-vote/web-700-cant-waste-vote-SINGLE-IMAGE.png “I’ll look into this ‘hugs’”
I must say I appreciate the comic which starts with “It’s me, your good friend Dennis the Erection Koala” :-D
On the other hand if you actually do care about conveying bits of information, there are much more effective ways than voting.