it would be great if we could send a message with a vote, but the way to do that remains calling and emailing and otherwise communicating directly the actual ballot is the bluntest of blunt instruments

Mayb if* voting ever goes online, the e-ballot can include a "Special instructions" text box like when you make a food order that routes your political request to the nominee you've selected. Graft being what it is, it can even include a tip selection. * Please dear gods no.

The only message you send is "I have engaged, I will hold whoever is elected accountable." Non-voting groups are, without fail, not considered worthy of any political support from government. That's why policies so often skew towards the elderly from the young. OLD PEOPLE VOTE!

Votes only send messages when done en masse. That's like, the whole point.

The closest we get is Nevada's "none of these candidates." Sadly, it doesn't work as a nullifier (the next biggest number still wins) but it is, at least, *a* message. Kinda love it for that. But, if only there was some way to vote with some sort of "ranking" system for the "choices" you prefer.