2000 Election

Facts:
1) There was a 5-4 vote to stop the election.
2) Katherine Harris said the Nov. 14th deadline would stay, but the Florida Sumpre Court said it had to be extended.
3) Most thought the United States Supreme Court would hear the case.
4) On Dec. 8th, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a hand recount in certain areas.
5) William Rehnquist was the chief justice at the time.
6) The voting machines in the United States count 97-99% of votes correctly.
7) Most voting machines are different in different states and even counties.
8) The equal protection clause could have been violated.

Questions:
Why does this article say that 99% is WAY higher than 97%?
Was it a bed decision to stop the recount?
How would the election have turned out if there was a full hand recount?
Were other government positions affected by this, we only hear about the presidential race?
Can something like ever happen again?