If someone wants to participate in party activities, namely... the act of choosing the PARTY'S nominee... then they should join the fucking party. It's just that simple.

For a group of people who fancy themselves as being "politically active" and "involved with the process", it certainly seems to me that they don't know as much as they think they do (or maybe they're just not as involved as they claim they are.)

Registering in the middle of an election cycle? No particular candidate to "motivate" you ... well, just pick an actual party that comes closest to representing your views and opinions and philosophy. Again: simple!

If someone's truly "independent", or if they just can't decide, or if they place more value on the pride of being able to label themselves as being "independent" or "free thinking" or "not beholden to a party" (instead of taking on the responsibility of participating with PARTY ACTIVITIES) then good-for-them! That's their choice and all the limitations that come with it ... but ultimately, it's their choice, and those are the consequences (so to speak) of their own decision.

But all is not lost. They can still participate by VOLUNTEERING for, and DONATING to the primary candidate of their preference. And if the actual PARTY MEMBERS agree and select that candidate as the PARTY'S nominee, then they can vote for that candidate in the General Election.

Don't like the rules? Well... it seems that their best chance of helping to shape and influence the rules would be to do so from WITHIN the party machinery. Standing on the street and shouting about it doesn't seem to be working. Posting on social media and hashtagging it to death isn't working either. When all else fails, come up with a new plan.

That's how a two party system works. "Perfect" is not always a choice. You can ask for "perfect", but you don't always get it.

… about whether or not another person actually votes and in someone growing weary of hearing about it. It's a mistake to confuse the two or to draw conclusions by conflating the two.

I feel the same way as the OP. The so-called "conscience voters" whose "vote is not for sale" are merely seeking attention and having a tantrum. They're feeling fearful and helpless and frustrated. They are likely seeking validation from other like-minded individuals, or they want to regain some sense of control by engaging with others who feel obligated to try and talk them down.

Ugh. What a waste of time to indulge their vanities. Why reward bad behavior? It only encourages more of the same. At its most base level, that type of behavior reminds me of a toddler having a fit at the candy rack of the grocery store. They know they've lost the battle, yet they persist because the parent gives them attention.

It doesn't matter that the attention is negative, it's attention and that's good enough. The child "forced" the parent to do something, to respond, and that's apparently all they need to feel as though they're in control of an uncontrollable circumstance.

So, when a frustrated toddler threatens to hold their breath until they turn blue in the face, I say LET THEM (for all the good it will do). At least when they pass out, they'll be quiet.