Want you vote to matter next election? So would I. Unfortunately, the only votes that do matter are the handful of elector votes. It is astonishing to think that the majority of Americans believe their vote makes a difference when clearly it does not.
"The United States Electoral College is the institution that officially elects the President and Vice President of the United States every four years. The President and Vice President are not elected directly by the voters. Instead, they are elected indirectly by "electors" who are elected by popular vote on a state-by-state basis."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)