> anybody that objects to the candidates presented
You are missing the point. It's not about objecting to candidates. It's two separate signals sent by on the one hand abstaining, and on the other hand filling out a blank votes.
Blank vote means "I think this is a legitimate election, I just don't like any of the candidates".
The distinction between these two signals is important enough that most democracies around the world preserve it by not having compulsory voting.
Total utter rubbish.
Australia has compulsory voting .. meaning 98% of people turn up or mail in a "vote" and have a barbeque on the day.
The "signal" you falsely claim to be missing is right there in the donkey votes and duds - anybody that objects to the candidates presented is free to draw a dick and balls on the ballot or pencil in a candidate of their choice .. and that signal is anonymous, counted and logged.