Dimpled Chad Day for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Wednesday, January 4th. There are until the next observance.

Every year on January 4th, Dimpled Chad Day is held in commemoration of the notorious punched card voting ballot. A chad is a little piece of paper that is punched and removed when a hole is punched in cardboard using a machine or by hand. When the chad is not entirely removed, it is referred to as a dimpled chad. On the night of the 2000 presidential election, these unremoved chads brought the entire country to its knees. As we recall the chad and the devastation it caused, we should revisit this wonderful national show.

📆 When is Dimpled Chad Day?

This year, Dimpled Chad Day is on January 4th. It is the 1st Wednesday in January; in 2024, it is on Thursday.

Countdown to Dimpled Chad Day

Did you know: From who can register to vote to how the votes are counted, the rules in each of the 50 states are very different.

You can also learn all fascinating things you didn’t know about and facts about January 4, 2023.

📜 History of Dimpled Chad Day

George W. Bush (R-FL) faced off against Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election (D-TN). As the day came to a close on November 7, 2000, all major news outlets declared Gore the winner. The state of Florida, however, has yet to pronounce a winner, despite Bush’s leading the vote count by a few hundred votes.

More than 30 Florida counties utilized Votomatic-style punched card ballots to register votes. However, many votes were not correctly punched as predicted. Thousands of voter rolls were rejected due to dimpled chads, which occur when a piece of paper remains adhered to the cardboard after being punched out. Because of the tight vote count, Gore requested an automated machine recount, which Bush challenged in the Supreme Court. A month and six days after the election, the Supreme Court, of course, halted the recount and pronounced Bush the winner.

As one of the world’s longest operating democracies, the United States has had its fair share of election catastrophes. We grew up hearing about the closely fought tally between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and how the “Chicago Tribune” wrongly printed “Dewey Defeats Truman”-it’s virtually a cliche at this point.

The Congress met on January 6, 2001, to proclaim Bush the official victor of the 2000 presidential election, which may be why January 4 is set aside for a nationwide denunciation of the infamous punched card ballots.

☑️ Dimpled Chad Day facts

It’s a luxury often taken for granted
The United States has the lowest voting rate of any industrialized country, with just 60% of the population voting.

It’s a long affair
A single presidential election cycle in the United States lasts around 600 days, which is an absurdly lengthy time span when compared to any other democracy.

It’s expensive, so expensive
The 2020 presidential election will cost around $14 billion, making it the most costly political process in human history.

Things to do on Dimpled Chad Day

Watch a documentary
There is a wealth of content accessible online, ranging from documentaries to live-action films, to let you relive the events of the 2000 election. Gather your family for a lunch accompanied by some classic American political drama.

Organize a debate night
One of the finest aspects of American elections is the opportunity to participate in live discussions, which few democracies have. On January 4, host a debate night to examine local problems affecting your town.

Register to volunteer in the local elections
There is more to politics than the presidential election every four years. Election offices around the country require assistance with voter rolls, registration, censuses, and other tasks. Celebrate our elections productively on Dimpled Chad Day.

📅 Dimpled Chad Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2024 January 4 Thursday
2025 January 4 Saturday
2026 January 4 Sunday
2027 January 4 Monday
2028 January 4 Tuesday

Explore all January holidays, including Special Interest and other American holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Dimpled Chad Day. So be sure to check back soon.