The system is fundamentally built on trust, trust that those in positions of authority will enforce the rules appropriately and fairly. However, by installing corrupt allies and folks with a personal interest in disregarding rules and norms into those aforementioned positions of power, then votes and rules no longer much matter.
This is why Mike Pence’s stance of not rejecting electors from the various states in 2020 was such a big deal and such a crucial lynchpin in stitching together the reality we currently share and experience.
We can argue, for example, about the best stratagems and series of moves to win the game of chess before us, but when our opponent chooses to drill holes through the board, set it on fire, and introduce magical dragons and wizards as game pieces, then we must fundamentally rethink our best path forward and acknowledge that it no longer much matters whether we decide to move to Queens Rook 7 or Kings Bishop 4.