[djbebs]

Voting provides legitimacy to the winner of the election and to the election process itself.

If you disagree with both of those things, voting has no positive and results only in negatives.

[trinsic2]

Its been my understanding that political parties have interests that are completely separate from the will of the people, even though campaigns say otherwise, and no amount of change is going to fix that problem.

Also any changes that come from those institutions follow the real progress that gets made by common people.

"A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. When the majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be the only slaves. Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote." - Henry David Thoreau

[themitigating]

If it has no positives what are the negatives?

[function_seven]

Providing legitimacy to parties or institutions that you reject.

Simpsons did it: "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos"

[themitigating]

Provides legitmacy by whom and how is this used?

Counter In europe many elections have extremely low turnout but governments are considered legitimate