It isn't that smaller states don't get a say, it's that the PEOPLE'S say is what matters, not the states'

The whole "bigger states/bigger cities will decide elections" is not true whatsoever. It doesn't even make sense when you read into it. The people in those cities and states are what matters. Changing to a popular vote system (including stuff like ranked voting, what Australia does) will lead to people actually feeling as if their vote matters. If politicians have issues with it, they just need to adopt more popular policies that align with the views of their voter base, ya know, the people who put you in charge and the ones that you're governing. Land shouldn't vote, people should.