The Oscars are voted on by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a professional organization of people who work in the film industry, not by the general public.

Who actually votes for the Oscars?

  • The voters are Academy members , all of whom are film professionals: actors, directors, writers, editors, costume designers, sound designers, etc.
  • There are roughly 10,000+ members in total, with just under that number eligible to vote (around 9,900 voting members in recent counts).
  • Members are divided into branches (acting, directing, writing, cinematography, etc.), and each branch represents a specific craft.

To get in, you generally must either be nominated for an Oscar yourself or be sponsored by existing members, then approved by the Academy’s Board of Governors.

How the voting works (quick version)

  • Nominations phase
    • Each branch votes for nominations in its own categories:
      • Actors nominate actors, directors nominate directors, writers nominate writers, and so on.
* An important exception: **Best Picture** nominations are chosen by _all_ eligible Academy members, not one branch.

* The Academy uses a preferential/instant-runoff style system to narrow down nominees, so nominees generally have broad support, not just a small but passionate fanbase.
  • Winners phase
    • In the final round, all voting members can vote in most categories , including Best Picture.
* Voting is done by **secret online ballot** , and the results are tabulated by the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, then kept strictly confidential until the envelopes are opened live at the ceremony.

Who gets to become an Academy voter?

  • You must be a film professional with significant, recognized work (for example, credited roles in major films, industry awards, or an Oscar nomination).
  • New members usually need:
    1. A sponsorship or invitation, often by two members of the relevant branch, or
    2. A prior Oscar nomination or win.
  • The Board of Governors reviews and approves membership lists each year, and the Academy has been trying to diversify its ranks (more women and more racially and ethnically diverse members) in the last decade.

Mini “forum-style” take: Why people care who votes

“So is it just old Hollywood insiders in a room?”

Not exactly—but that used to be the stereotype. The Academy still skews industry insider by design, but:

  • Membership has grown past 10,000, which dilutes the old “tiny secret club” image.
  • Recent membership pushes have increased international, younger, and more diverse voters, which is partly why you see more global and non‑traditional films in contention now.
  • At the same time, it’s not a fan vote; campaigning, screeners, and industry relationships still matter a lot.

Quick FAQ

  • Do regular fans vote for the Oscars?
    No. Only Academy members vote; fans have no direct vote in Oscar winners.
  • Do all Academy members vote in every category?
    • For nominations : mostly only the relevant branch, except Best Picture, which is open to all members.
* For **winners** : all voting members can participate in nearly all categories.
  • Who counts and knows the results before the show?
    A small team at PricewaterhouseCoopers handles the secure counting and are the only ones who know the winners before the envelopes are opened onstage.

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