And the sad part is that so many folks, like Jon in the UK, believe that their vote really doesn't matter. But then apathy leads to the election of a no-good dumb dog of a politician who screws everyone to tears because he's a total jerk
Lets not confuse groups of votes with my one vote. You cannot conflate the two. People do it to prove that I should vote. But I am not arguing that if everybody votes then you don't get the 100% fair election result. My argument, as clearly stated, is that it is irrational for a person to vote and think that one vote will effect the outcome. I believe that in the USA, the chances are something like 60M to 1.
Also, if more people vote, who is to say that the person you think is a jerk will not get elected anyway? Half the people hated Hillary, half hated Trump! Same principle for Brexit. People are divided. Just having a higher percentage of the population voting does not mean you necessarily get a different result. The only circumstances are if it is close and one side has a lower propensity to vote than the other.
I am not talking about the morals of voting. What I am talking about is that people are fooling themselves if they think their individual vote will make one jot of difference. If I am wrong, can someone please point to one instance in the history of civilisation where one vote altered the outcome of a national election, when there are at least 100K+ people voting? If you can't find that instance, then the evidence (and maths) is heavily on my site. I doubt you can find a single one, in all countries in all of history!
Going to the voting booth might make you feel good, doing your bit and helping out. But it is the biggest con known to mankind. You are all fooling yourselves! Instead, if you drive to the voting booth you are contributing to CO2 emissions in a futile attempt to alter the unalterable! Or did I get that wrong?
It is nothing to do with laziness. If someone has a convincing argument that it makes a difference, then I would vote!
Edit: I am not saying you should not vote. People can enjoy voting for other reasons than it making a difference. I might cheer at a football match but I know my one cheer won't make any difference! [To be pedantic, cheering is cumulative in its result, while voting is only cumulative on the one instance where it is exactly 50:50 and your one vote tips the balance.]