I know I used to feel the way you said, that it's one's duty to vote, but that's because everyone I knew who didn't vote was not voting out of apathy, and had made no consideration of the matter.

I kind of have changed my mind about that since I moved here.

I know that in this state, if one doesn't like the Republican or Democratic candidate--then not voting is the only choice.

OK only allows Dem, Rep, and Independent, and there are no Independents that qualified for the ballot. No write-ins allowed. So if a person truly supported the Libertarian or Green party, he/she would be out of luck here. They don't even give people the choice to register with any of the other parties: when you register those are the only three choices you get. I would love to see that challenged in court!

And I also know that with the electoral college set-up, my own vote will not count. This state is going to go overwhelmingly Republican, which is very discouraging. So in a way my own vote will also be a form of protest.

Your last question is a very good one. But heck if I know either. My own inclination is usually to work within the system, but that's because of my personality rather than a ringing endorsement of the system.