While I'd prefer to be in the realm of reason you are correct that most people respond to elections with a tribal/familial reaction combined with the amount of mass advertising they're subjected to. Asking citizens to actually look at voting histories and such is purposely presented as "hard work" while they can simply choose between Brand A and Brand B in a slick, prepackaged format that spares them the labor of actually thinking about it.
Which is what I was just criticizing Rove (Carville, Mattalin, etc.) for. These people's cynicism are truly contributing to the ever-lowering number of actual voters in each election cycle. Citizens don't get that these creeps fear mass voter turnouts more than anything as all of these characters like to believe their lying assured the elections of their respective candidates.
So everyone who can, no matter what party they like, should vote just to splash such detritus against the rocks of true democracy. 40% of the total population is a shameful figure for a nation founded on citizen participation while so many Third World nation's citizens struggle for any voice at all.
Strongly agree with your entire post above.