US Trends

how does dwts voting work

“Dancing With the Stars” (DWTS) voting is basically a 50/50 mix of judges’ scores and viewer votes, with a few techy details and limits that matter if you want your votes to really count.

How DWTS Voting Works (Quick Scoop)

1. The Core System: Judges + Viewers

At its simplest, eliminations are based on:

  • 50% judges’ scores.
  • 50% audience votes (text + online).

Behind the scenes, they convert everything into percentages , then combine them:

  1. Judges:
    • Each couple gets a total score for the night (for example, 32 out of 40).
    • Production adds up all judges’ points given that night (for example, 400 total).
    • A couple’s “judges share” = their score ÷ total points (for example, 40/400=0.140/400=0.140/400=0.1, or 10%).
  1. Viewers:
    • They add up all viewer votes cast for all couples.
    • A couple’s “vote share” = their votes ÷ total viewer votes (for example, 1,000 ÷ 10,000 = 0.1, or 10%).
  1. Combined:
    • Judges share + viewer share = final score used to rank couples.
    • Couple with the lowest combined share is typically the one eliminated (unless the format uses a separate “bottom two + judges’ save” twist that week).

So even if a couple scores well with judges, a weak fan vote can sink them—and the reverse is also true.

2. How Many Votes You Get

The exact numbers can vary a bit by season and platform, but the current general pattern:

  • You usually get a fixed number of votes per couple, per method, per week.
  • Common setup:
    • Up to 10 text votes per couple.
* Up to 10 online votes per couple (website/app).
  • That means up to 20 votes per couple per week if both methods are active in that season.

Earlier eras allowed people to exploit multiple accounts for more online votes; newer setups often cap you more strictly, so it’s closer to a true “20 votes per couple per person” ceiling.

Example: If there are 12 couples left and the system is “10 text + 10 online per couple,” you could, in theory, cast 240 total votes across the cast (20 × 12), distributed any way you want.

3. Ways to Vote (What You Actually Do)

a) Text Voting

  • Each couple has a keyword (often the celeb’s name) shown on screen.
  • You text that keyword to a short code (commonly 21523 in recent seasons for U.S./Canada).
  • Each text = 1 vote for that couple, up to your per-couple limit (often 10).
  • First text usually triggers a confirmation message; you may get another message once you’ve hit your limit.

Key tips:

  • Text only the keyword (no emojis, no extra words) or the system might not count it.
  • Send separate texts, not “10 votes in one message.”
  • Standard message rates can apply, so heavy voting can hit limited plans.

b) Online/App Voting

  • You go to the official voting page (historically ABC or the current streaming/network partner site).
  • You log in or create a free account.
  • You assign your available votes to couples (for example, 10 votes per couple).
  • Each click or assignment counts as one vote, up to the platform’s weekly cap.

Some seasons allow only online + text , no phone call voting, and they sometimes tweak the platform (network site vs. streaming app).

4. When the Voting Window Is Open

Timing matters a lot; votes outside the window don’t count.

  • Voting usually opens with the start of the live East Coast broadcast (for example, 8 p.m. Eastern).
  • It typically closes near the end of that broadcast, often right after the last performance or shortly before the show ends.
  • The show often specifies something like “voting open from 8:00 p.m. to the end of the live simulcast in Eastern/Central time zones.”

If you’re on the West Coast, timing can be tricky depending on whether your season is doing real-time nationwide voting or delayed local voting; the show will spell that out at the start of the season.

5. Strategy Talk (The “Forum” Angle)

Because DWTS is half popularity contest, fans treat the system like a small strategy game.

Common fan strategies:

  • Max out your votes: Use all text and online votes for your favorite couple every week.
  • Defense voting: If your favorite is safe but you dislike a specific contestant, some fans distribute votes to rivals they find less threatening—though this is less common and more controversial in fandom discussions.
  • Organized “vote drives”: In some online communities, users coordinate voting reminders and share step-by-step guides (especially when a polarizing figure joins the cast).

That’s why you sometimes see results where a high-scoring couple goes home: their fanbase wasn’t as aggressive with voting as others.

6. Quick DWTS Voting Facts (Cheat Sheet)

  • Eliminations are based on 50% judges’ scores + 50% viewer votes , expressed as percentages and added together.
  • You typically get around 10 text votes + 10 online votes per couple per week , but check the season’s official rules for exact numbers.
  • Text voting uses a short code (often 21523) and a keyword (usually the celeb name) shown during the broadcast.
  • Voting is usually only open during the live East Coast broadcast window , closing right after the final dance or before the credits.
  • The couple with the lowest combined judges + votes share is typically eliminated, unless a special “judges’ save” or twist is in play.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.