pregnant chads

voting and elections

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Last updated

July 18, 2026

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The term "pregnant chad" refers to a type of ballot error in punch card voting systems. A "chad" is the small piece of paper that is punched out when a voter makes a selection. A "pregnant chad" occurs when the paper is indented but not completely detached from the ballot.

This issue, along with "hanging chads" (partially detached pieces), gained significant attention during the 2000 U.S. presidential election. In Florida, these unread ballots led to calls for recounts, ultimately culminating in the Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore. The controversy surrounding punch card machines and chads contributed to the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which led to the phasing out of these voting systems.12

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Bush v. Gore
Background
…punched paper ballots) and “pregnant chads” (paper ballots that were dimpled, but not pierced, during the voting process), as well as “overvotes” (ballots that recorded multiple votes for the same office) and “undervotes” (ballots that recorded no vote for a given office). Also at issue was the so-called butterfly…
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…punched paper ballots) and “pregnant chads” (paper ballots that were dimpled, but not pierced, during the voting process), as well as “overvotes” (ballots that recorded multiple votes for the same office) and “undervotes” (ballots that recorded no vote for a given office). Also at issue was the so-called butterfly…
Read More