Answer:
Some points on how little Chad caused big problems in the 2000 presidential election:
- Punch-card voting machines were used in Florida. These machines required voters to punch holes in their ballots in order to indicate their voting preferences. The small discarded fragment of paper that was left behind was called a “chad”.
- Many ballots were not punched completely through, resulting in hanging chads. These hanging chads were not counted by the machines, which led to a significant number of invalid votes.
- The margin of victory in Florida was very narrow. George W. Bush won the state by a margin of just 537 votes, which made the hanging chads a critical factor in the election.
- The hanging chads led to a recount in Florida. The recount was highly controversial, and it ultimately went to the Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court ruled in favor of George W. Bush, effectively handing him the election. The hanging chads were a major factor in the Court's decision, and they ultimately led to George W. Bush becoming president.
The hanging chads were a major source of controversy in the 2000 presidential election. They were a symbol of the confusion and uncertainty that surrounded the election, and they ultimately led to a very close and controversial outcome.