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Simple English definitions for legal terms
chad
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A quick definition of chad:
A chad is a small piece of paper that is attached to a punch-card ballot by several points and punched out by a voter to cast a vote. The chad must be completely separated from the ballot for the vote to be counted. In the 2000 presidential election, more than 40,000 ballots with partially attached chads had to be hand-counted, causing a delay in the results. There are different types of chads, including dimpled chads (bulging but not pierced), hanging chads (attached by a single point), pregnant chads (also known as dimpled chads), swinging-door chads (attached by two points), and tri-chads (attached by three points). In the past, a chafewax was a chancery officer who heated wax to seal writs, commissions, and other instruments, but this office was abolished in 1852.
A more thorough explanation:
Chad refers to the small piece of paper that is attached to a punch-card ballot by several points and punched out by a voter to cast a vote. In order for the vote to be counted, the chad must be completely separated from the ballot. The 2000 presidential election was delayed for several weeks because more than 40,000 ballots with partially attached chads had to be hand-counted.
- Dimpled chad: A chad that is bulging but not pierced, with all its points attached to the ballot. Sometimes called a "pregnant chad."
- Hanging chad: A chad that is attached to the ballot by a single point.
- Swinging-door chad: A chad that is attached to the ballot by two points.
- Tri-chad: A chad that is attached to the ballot by three points.
These examples illustrate the different types of chads that can be found on punch-card ballots. The dimpled chad is not fully detached from the ballot, while the hanging chad is only attached by one point. The swinging-door chad is attached by two points, and the tri-chad is attached by three points. All of these chads must be fully detached for the vote to be counted.
In the past, chafewax was a term used to describe a chancery officer who heated wax to seal writs, commissions, and other instruments. This office was abolished in 1852.