I'm sorry Erich, but your perception is a tad off.  Iraq has never ever been a stable democracy and is likely more corrupt after our intervention. 
But onto voter registration. You can register...at the polls, at the DMV, on your PFD form, on your hunting/license application. I wouldn't be surprised if the gas pump asked me to register before enabling the pump. I do vote btw. Making mandatory registrations is really throwing the cat out of the bag and into the fan. Ohio for instance just found THOUSANDS of altered voter registration data. Also, not a fan that voter registration info is online and pops up when you google your own name (i'll google yours shortly see who and where you vote, not cool huh?). Thing is, when I took a government politics course I calculated Alaskan voter turnout...wasn't bad compared the L48. You have to ask yourself...why would politicians want a registered voter who doesnt vote? Fraud. Mandatory registration has been proven to have zero effect on turnout.