How does dancing with the stars voting work

As of 13 October 2026, the voting process for the current season of Dancing with the Stars remains consistent with the digital-first approach established in recent years. Viewers are required to cast their votes exclusively through the official ABC website or via text message during the live broadcast window. The voting period opens at the start of the live show and concludes shortly after the final performance of the night, ensuring that audience participation is synchronized with the real-time competition. To maintain fairness, each viewer is permitted to cast up to ten votes per couple per voting method, allowing for a maximum of twenty votes per contestant if utilizing both online and text options. The public vote is combined with the scores provided by the professional judging panel to determine which couples remain in the competition and which face elimination. This hybrid scoring system ensures that both technical proficiency and audience popularity influence the outcome. International viewers are reminded that participation is restricted to residents of the United States and Canada, as per the official rules updated for the 2026 season.

On 5 October 2026, ABC and Disney+ released updated guidelines regarding the voting mechanics for the current season of Dancing with the Stars. As of this date, the voting process remains a hybrid system designed to balance audience engagement with professional judging. Viewers are permitted to cast their votes during the live broadcast via the official show website or through SMS text messaging. Each eligible voter is granted a specific number of votes per couple, which must be submitted within the designated window that closes shortly after the final performance of the night. The system requires viewers to register their accounts to ensure integrity and prevent automated manipulation. Votes are combined with the scores provided by the panel of judges to determine which contestants remain in the competition and who faces elimination. The production team emphasized that international viewers outside of the United States and Canada are currently ineligible to participate in the official tally. This structure ensures that the results reflect the preferences of the domestic audience while maintaining the competitive standards established by the show’s long-standing format.