A chad is the small piece of waste paper or card created when a hole is punched in a ballot.

Chads became famous in the 2000 presidential election, when the results in Florida were so close that a recount was necessary and electoral officials were forced to examine the ballot papers to determine voters' intentions.

Some voters had punched their preferences, but the chad had not fully separated from the ballot (a hanging chad). In other cases, and indentation had been made in the ballot but it had not been punched through (a pregnant or dimpled chad).