The current parliament hasn't changed to address any of the concerns about its legitimacy brought forward every election cycle since 2002 and caused the last uprising. They still don't have any legislative power. The voting circles still make it so that voters in certain areas count as 1/20th of the vote of somebody in another area. The investigative powers are still clipped... we're voting on who gets a 4000 BHD salary. How can they represent us when they have no power to enact change without the approval of non-democratically appointed people?

You're right, the act of not voting is a vote in itself. Go, vote! Vote with your conscience. But I don't think we can criticize the people who don't see value in repeating the experiences of the 00s and 70s ad infinitum. You can't blame them for refusing to help put up a facade of democracy. The meethaq that was supported by the majority of the country in 2001 stated that the parliament would have free direct elections and would be capable of enacting laws. That's what was promised, and is yet to be delivered.

I will vote, but I'm under no illusions of what my vote will do. I hope it improves the country.