Why do you vote the way you vote?

[Dauphin]

I vote for the person who appears* to have the same views as me, insofar as they will likely vote the way I would on the majority of subjects up for debate (particularly relevant where I have no opinion on a subject being debated due to lack of awareness of that particular issue, but where they have to have awareness of it in order to vote on the issue as my representative). If I don't know the candidates well enough, I vote on party lines as a proxy. If my candidate will never win, I don't care - I want my voice heard for what it is, not for what is the most acceptable of the most populist choices.

*Matters not if they act a particular way to get my vote, they would still vote the same way as I would and promote my choices.