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7 Shocking Secrets Of Dancing With The Stars Voting: The Ultimate 2025 Fan Guide

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The power to save your favorite celebrity-pro pairing on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) rests entirely in your hands, but the process is far more complex and time-sensitive than simply picking up your phone. As of the current season, which concluded its run on November 25, 2025, the show continues to blend the judges' rigorous technical scores with the public's passionate support to determine who gets to compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Understanding the precise rules, the limited voting window, and the maximum number of votes you can cast is crucial for any dedicated fan hoping to influence the final elimination process.

The latest Season 34 of DWTS solidified a dual-platform approach, ensuring viewers on both the traditional ABC broadcast and the Disney+ streaming service have a voice. This up-to-date 2025 guide breaks down everything you need to know about the official DWTS voting system, from the moment the live show begins to the final commercial break when the ballot box slams shut.

The Essential 2025 DWTS Voting Rules and Celebrity Lineup

The voting process for Dancing with the Stars is governed by strict rules regarding eligibility, method, and time. Failing to follow these steps means your valuable fan support will not be counted. Here is the definitive breakdown, complete with the Season 34 details.

  • Voting Methods: There are two official ways to cast your vote: the online voting portal and the SMS text message option.
  • Maximum Votes Per Week: Viewers are allowed a maximum of 20 votes per couple each week. This is split into 10 votes via the online method and 10 votes via the SMS method.
  • Voting Eligibility: To vote online, you must be 18 years or older and a resident of the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico. SMS voting is generally limited to participating US wireless carriers.
  • Hosts: The current season was hosted by the dynamic duo of Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro.
  • Judges: The panel of expert judges, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough, provide the initial scores that form the judges' leaderboard.
  • Season 34 Champion: The winner of the most recent season was celebrity Robert Irwin, paired with professional partner Witney Carson.
  • Notable Season 34 Couples: Other celebrity contestants and their professional partners included Olympic Gymnast Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa, Social Media Star Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy, and Actor Corey Feldman & Jenna Johnson.

The Two Critical Ways to Cast Your Vote (10 Votes Each)

To maximize your 20-vote potential, you must utilize both the online and the text message systems. Both methods are equally weighted in the final cumulative scores.

1. The Official Online Voting Portal: dwtsvote.abc.com

The most reliable and universally accessible method is through the official ABC website. This is the only way for Canadian voters and Puerto Rico residents to participate in the public vote.

  • Website Address: Visit dwtsvote.abc.com.
  • Account Creation: You must create an account using your email address. You will receive a verification code that must be entered to confirm your eligibility.
  • Casting Votes: Once logged in, you will see the list of remaining celebrity-pro couples. You can allocate your 10 votes to any combination of couples you choose. You can give all 10 to one couple or spread them out among multiple teams.
  • Flexibility: The online portal allows you to change your vote allocation until you hit the final "Submit" button and the voting window closes.

2. The SMS Text Message Voting Method

For US residents with a participating wireless carrier, the SMS method offers a quick way to cast your second set of 10 votes.

  • SMS Number: Text your vote to the number 21523.
  • The Keyword: The body of your text message must be the first name of the celebrity contestant you wish to save. For example, to vote for celebrity Robert Irwin, you would text "ROBERT" to 21523.
  • Vote Limit: Each successful text counts as one vote. You can send up to 10 text messages per valid US phone number per week.
  • Important Note: This method is typically not available to viewers outside of the United States. Standard messaging and data charges may apply.

The Strict DWTS Voting Window: Time Zones are Everything

This is arguably the most crucial piece of information for fans: the voting period is incredibly short and occurs only during the live broadcast. If you live outside the East Coast or Central Time Zone, you must pay close attention to the live simulcast schedule.

The Official DWTS Voting Window:

  • Opens: The voting window opens precisely when the live show begins at 8:00 p.m. ET (East Coast Time) / 7:00 p.m. CT (Central Time Zone).
  • Closes: The voting window closes sharply after the final competitive dance of the night, usually during the final commercial break before the results are announced.

Why Time Zones Matter:

Because the show is broadcast live across the country, viewers in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones are often watching a delayed feed. Their votes are counted only if they cast them during the East Coast/Central Time live simulcast window. If you are watching a stream or replay outside of this window, your vote will not be counted in the weekly results. This short, live window is a key reason why the fan vote is such a high-stakes component of the show.

The Shocking Truth: How Judges' Scores and Fan Votes Combine for Elimination

The final elimination decision is a complex, two-part formula that combines the judges' scores and the public vote. It is a ranking system, not a simple addition of points.

1. The Judges' Leaderboard: The three judges—Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough—award scores for each performance. These scores are tallied to create the judges' leaderboard ranking. The couple at the top receives the highest number of points, and the couple at the bottom receives the lowest.

2. The Public Vote Ranking: The millions of votes cast by the public via the online portal and text messages are converted into an equivalent ranking. The couple that receives the highest percentage of the public vote also receives the highest number of points in this ranking.

3. The Cumulative Score: The judges' ranking points and the public vote ranking points are then combined to create a final, cumulative score. The couple with the lowest combined score is typically the one eliminated, though specific tie-breaker rules are in place for close calls.

This system ensures that while technical merit and performance quality (judges' scores) are vital, fan support and popularity (public vote) have a significant and equal role in deciding who advances to the next week and ultimately who wins the Mirrorball Trophy. The massive engagement in Season 33, which broke series voting records with over 16 million votes on Disney Night, proves the public’s passion for this process is stronger than ever.

7 Shocking Secrets of Dancing with the Stars Voting: The Ultimate 2025 Fan Guide
dancing with the stars voting
dancing with the stars voting

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