I'm actually trying to remember when my vote for president actually mattered. Virginia was solid red from 1972-1988. Illinois 1992-2000, it was always given a Democrat would win.
I guess my time in Michigan gave some intrigue to the national elections 2004,2016
This may not hold for local and state elections.
The whole EC thing failed when they started allowing commoners to. vote while keeping the veneer of "smart electors" deciding the executive position. One man, one vote has been a farce for 200 plus years