I'm almost 50 now and I've never voted in my life. Hear me out!
I was born in a country where previous generations (both my grandparents and parents) lived, for almost 40 years, under a dictatorship.
Just before I was born, there was a revolution (no bloodsheed) that took down the government and delivered back fundamental rights to the people, including the right to vote.
I grow up privileged and feeling proud of my people and history. I never knew what oppression, repression, censorship or abuse of political power was... until I was 15 and actively participated in a national students demonstration against government education policies. It was my "eye opening moment"! The State was not even willing to listen to our concerns and seek, with us, for a reasonable solution! Instead, they decided to send the police over and just beat the crap out of us. The State is not our friend or there to protect us, people!
After that day, I took the decision to reserved my right to NOT vote.
First, in respect to all the people that made that PEACEFUL revolution possible, understanding the true meaning of Freedom: everyone is free (and in non agression manner) to live the way he sees fit; Second, in respect for my own moral principles and integrity. If It's my life, I should be the one deciding about it, not a group of people that don't even know who I am. Plus, I don't recognize legitimacy to anyone to speak for me on that or any other subject.
Through all these years, history has proved me right, unfortunately. "Democratic" elected government after "democratic" elected government. The most disgusting, amoral and corrupt scum (some of them, now old farts, are in high ranks of international organizations...).
All this might not matter to anyone or not change anything, but to me means the world. Everyday, I'm proud I stood my ground and I never gave away my consent to any of those fuckers and wasn't accomplice with their bullshit. And I truly think I never will.
I choose to stay clean!
(Sorry, guys, for the long note... )