In the Palm Beach County manual recount, the final outcome may hinge on chad; the tiny portion that is punched out of the paper ballot. Counting machines register the empty hole in the ballot as a vote, but sometimes these tiny pieces of paper stay partially attached to the ballot, in which case the vote may not be registered by the counting machine.

Florida election statutes state that in a recount, the canvassing board should try to discern the intent of the voter when considering questionable ballots, but it does not specify how. It is up to the canvassing board to determine how to count ballots that show an indentation but still have a fully attached chad.

The Palm Beach County guidelines to counting ballots with partially attached chad are as follows:

  • Hanging Door Chad: One corner is still attached to the ballot. (Counted as a vote).
  • Swinging Door Chad: Two corners are still attached to the ballot. (Counted as a vote).
  • Tri Chad: Three corners are still attached to the ballot. (Counted as a vote).
  • Dimpled Chad: Indented but still fully attached to the ballot. (Not counted as a vote).
  • Pregnant Chad: Pierced but still fully attached to the ballot. (Not counted as a vote).