Obviously evil persist in our democracy not because of those who mastermind the evil but because of those who watch evil happen. When citizens don't show up in an election because of the belief that it is already rigged, it makes the rigging even more easier for the riggers. Like you said, if citizen learn to come en masse to vote and defend their vote it becomes challenging for the riggers and more difficult to rig in an election.
Even though our democracy is in shambles all hands must be on deck to ensure that we achieve the ideal democracy and this can only manifest when all citizens of voting age learn to exercise their civic duty of voting for a candidate in an election. Your candidate is the right candidate so it is always wise to vote for a candidate. Afterall, the fact that there are different candidates makes it an election.
That is what is expected from a good citizens, one must understand the habit of their leaders. And how they do things, you are right mate, once you conclude that your vote won't be counted that is where the rigging is. low voters make it easy to politicians to rig election, because they have to manipulate numbers to meet up the requirements, they will help you vote if you do not participate in an election. As a people we must change and start to hold government accountable by casting vote not only to protest.
Nigerians are the worst set of citizens in the world, i keep telling people. We are good in critics only, our population should have been our strength to hold government accountable, but we rather stay on social media to abuse leaders everyday, instead for us to team up and vote them out during election.