Also, as it's done round here in France, two people look at each ballot, one announcing what is in it ; two other people each maintain a count of the votes.

I don't really see what you can take off that procedure and still maintain a fair amount of openness and security about the process.

I believe it's written in the French Electoral Code that people who make a living as magicians and prestidigitators aren't allowed near the ballots :).

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.