The vote for a backbencher is in the hopes that a) even if they don't break with their party on votes, they'll be pushing for your interests during the vast majority of the time they're working - voting in the leg or parliament is only a small part of what an MLA or MP does all day; and b) that this person who I am voting for because they seem to have a good head on their shoulders might rise in the ranks and might wield significant influence within their party one day, which will hopefully make that party better as a result.
Both of those are perfectly reasonable bases for ignoring the party affiliation and voting for the person in your riding.
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