A non-vote is just as valid as a vote. Often when I go vote there is no-one I support, I leave that race blank. I do vote on other things that are on that ballot . You are saying that my vote should be negated because I didn’t vote for something I don’t support? How progressive of you, komrad.
As for overvotes, by definition marking more than one selection in a single race disqualifies the ballot, so I do agree there: these ballots shouldn’t even be included in the initial count, but held aside to corroborate the # of votes cast.
I should have specified that they should be considered as invalid for any recount for the specified race.