To vote for your favorite couples on Dancing with the Stars, you can cast your ballots online or via text message during the live broadcast window. Eligible viewers in the United States and Canada can submit up to 10 votes per couple per voting method, meaning you have up to 20 total votes per couple each night. Voting opens at the very start of the show and closes promptly after the final performance of the night, leaving you a narrow live window to make your voice count.
Getting your votes locked in requires knowing the exact rules, eligibility boundaries, and technical steps to avoid errors. Whether you watch via traditional cable or stream live on platforms like Disney+, here is how the entire voting ecosystem operates.
How Online Voting Works
Online voting is open to fans located in the United States, its territories, and Canada who are at least 18 years old. You don't need a paid streaming subscription to vote online, but you do need to create or log into a free account on the official ABC DWTS voting portal.
- Navigate to the official voting page on your phone, tablet, or computer when the live show begins.
- Log in using your existing account credentials or sign up for a new account.
- Scroll through the list of active celebrity and professional dancer pairs.
- Use the slider or input fields to allocate your votes. You are allowed up to 10 votes per couple, and you can distribute votes across multiple different pairs if you want to support more than one act.
- Click the Save Votes button before the window shuts. If you change your mind mid-show, you can adjust your distribution, but you must hit save again for the changes to register.
How Text Message Voting Works
Text voting offers a quick alternative for mobile users, though it comes with distinct geographic and carrier limitations. SMS voting is restricted to fans physically located in the United States and Puerto Rico who use a participating U.S. wireless carrier. Canadian residents and international viewers cannot use text voting and must vote online. To understand the full picture, check out the detailed article by GQ.
- Check the live broadcast screen or official social channels for each couple's unique keyword (for example, texting a celebrity's first name).
- Send a text message containing that exact keyword to the shortcode number 21523.
- You can send up to 10 text messages per couple.
- Standard message and data rates apply. Unlike online votes, text votes cannot be modified or retracted once sent.
Understanding the Live Voting Window
The single biggest mistake fans make is waiting too long to cast their ballots. Voting windows on Dancing with the Stars are tied strictly to the live broadcast.
The voting period opens the moment the episode begins and closes immediately after the final dance of the night concludes. Because the show airs live in the Eastern and Central time zones, West Coast viewers watching delayed feeds often find that voting has already closed by the time their broadcast airs. If you are watching on a delayed schedule or catching an on-demand replay later, your votes will not count. Ensure you tune in during the live window or follow the real-time stream on Disney+ to participate.
How Judges' Scores and Fan Votes Combine
Fan votes account for half of a couple's total weekly score, while the judges' scores make up the other half. Showrunner updates clarify that the process converts both the judges' raw point totals and the total volume of viewer votes into ranking percentages. These two rankings are then combined on a 50/50 basis to determine the bottom couples.
Because the system relies on relative ranks rather than raw vote counts, a popular celebrity with a massive fanbase can escape elimination even if their dancing style receives harsh critiques from the judges. This balance keeps fan engagement vital to the competition's survival.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the deadline: Trying to vote during the post-show wrap-up or the next day results in wasted effort because the portals lock instantly after the last routine.
- Forgetting to save online choices: Adjusting your sliders online without clicking the explicit save button means your final distribution won't register.
- Exceeding limits: Trying to submit 15 votes for a single couple via text will result in extra blocked messages or uncounted ballots past the cap of 10.
- Geographic blocks: Attempting to vote from outside North America or trying to use text voting from a Canadian phone number will fail due to regional restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to vote online?
No. Online voting through the official ABC voting page is entirely free, though standard internet data charges from your provider may apply.
Can I vote for more than one couple?
Yes. You don't need to hoard all your votes for a single pair. You can cast up to 10 online votes and 10 text votes for multiple different couples during the same episode.
Why won't my text vote go through?
Text voting requires a participating U.S. carrier and a phone physically located in the U.S. or its territories. If you are using a Canadian or international mobile plan, your carrier cannot route messages to the shortcode.
What happens if there is a tie in the bottom two?
When couples land in the danger zone near the bottom of the leaderboard, the judges hold the ultimate save power to override or supplement viewer tallies depending on the specific seasonal rules implemented by production.
