GCECivic EducationPolitical Apathy and Participation2019

The concept of 'rational abstention' in political science suggests that some citizens abstain from voting because

Athey are constitutionally prohibited from participating in elections
Bthey calculate that the cost of voting outweighs the perceived benefit of their individual vote influencing the outcomeCORRECT
Cthey are coerced by political parties into staying away from polls
Dabstention is a legally recognised form of political protest in all democracies
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Why the answer is B, and why the others tempt you.
Rational abstention, a concept associated with public choice theory, holds that a voter may logically decide not to vote when the personal costs of participation—such as time, transportation, and information-gathering—exceed the perceived benefit, given that a single vote is unlikely to determine the outcome of a large election. This is a cognitive, calculated form of non-participation distinct from emotional apathy or legal prohibition. It is not coercion, nor is abstention universally recognised as a formal protest mechanism.
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