Consequences of voting when no vote is decisive

A person may cast a vote, which imposes a cost on him, even if his vote will not affect the result of an election or the decision of a committee. Motives for such voting are expressing views for emotional reasons, building a reputation by voting with the majority, influencing the beliefs of the public about the wisdom of the policy the majority favors, and gaining favors from a special interest which takes advantage of the non-decisiveness of a vote to buy votes cheaply. A person need not therefore vote for the policy he prefers be adopted.