I emigrated from Canada to the US four years ago, just a few weeks before the 2000 elections. And one of the first things that impressed me is how chaotic elections are here compared to Canada, a slightly less wealthy country.
In Canada, the chads issue could not have happened. Voting in federal and provincial elections is childishly simple; you pencil an X beside your candidate's name. Simple, unambiguous, with virtually no room for error. Easy paper trail for a recount.
There is a national, nonpartisan agency, Elections Canada, which is responsible for counting ballots. No Katherine Harris is possible. Any known partisan appointed to head the agency would cause an outcry.
Elections Canada hires thousands of workers every election. They have always counted the entire country's ballots within a few hours -- by hand, and with representatives of candidates allowed to watch the counting.
You're registered to vote automatically with your income tax return. (Even that is a step down; in olden times EC enumerators would personally visit every home in the land to register voters.) If you're not on the list, showing proper ID - or even swearing an oath, under penalty or perjury - at the polling station or district returning office entitles you to a vote, including on election day itself.
There is no provision for challenging voters at polling places. If you believe a voter is ineligible, you must show proof that he/she is not to the returning officer. The accusation is not sufficient. And since registration is nonpartisan (no such thing as registered Liberals or Conservatives) there is no easy tway of targeting voters to suppress.
Somebody please tell me why the United States has nothing like this. Elections shouldn't be rocket science.