How Dancing with the Stars Voting Works in the U.S. in 2026

The short answer: vote during the live simulcast

For U.S. viewers, Dancing with the Stars voting is tied to the live ABC and Disney+ simulcast. ABC says voting opens at 8/7c and closes shortly after the final competitive dance. For viewers in the Eastern time zone, that opening point is 8:00 p.m. ET.

That timing matters more than the program’s general availability. ABC’s show page lists the series on ABC and Disney+, with episodes also available on Hulu the next day. A next-day replay is useful for watching, but it does not create a second voting window. Waiting until the episode is available later means waiting past the period ABC describes for voting.

The closing rule is tied to the last competitive dance

The start is easy to remember: 8/7c during the live broadcast. The end is less useful as a fixed clock time because ABC ties it to an event—the final competitive dance—rather than giving viewers one universal minute on the clock.

That creates a practical distinction between the show’s listed airtime and the voting deadline. A viewer should not assume that voting remains open until a familiar end time, nor should they rely on a next-day stream to submit a late vote. The safer interpretation of ABC’s rule is to finish voting before the final competitive dance is over, rather than waiting for the closing moments of the episode.

Online and text voting have separate limits

ABC describes two voting methods: online voting through the official voting page at dwtsvote.abc.com and text-message voting using the couple’s official keyword sent to 21523.

Each method allows up to 10 votes per couple. That means the limits are separate: a viewer who uses both methods can submit up to 10 online votes and up to 10 text votes for the same couple, for a possible total of 20 votes through those two methods. “Up to” is important; using the full allowance is not required.

Online voting is the flexible option. ABC allows those votes to be distributed among multiple couples, and selections can be changed while the voting window is open. After entering or changing the allocation, the voter must click “Save Votes” for the online selections to be submitted.

Text voting works differently. The official keyword for each couple appears on the voting page when voting opens. Each successful text counts as one vote, and text votes cannot be changed after submission. Message and data rates may apply, and ABC limits SMS voting to viewers in the United States and its territories.

What the 10-vote rule means in practice

The online limit is an allocation decision, not a requirement to pick only one couple. A viewer could place all 10 online votes with one couple or divide them—for example, six for one couple and four for another. That flexibility is available online because the selections can be adjusted and saved again before voting closes.

The separate text limit changes the decision slightly. Text messages are individual submissions and cannot be edited afterward, so the keyword should be checked before sending. Online voting is better suited to someone who wants to review or rebalance a selection during the open window; text voting is more final once sent.

The combined limit should also not be mistaken for a prediction about the competition. Twenty possible votes for one couple does not establish that the couple will win, avoid elimination, or receive a particular judges’ score. It only describes the maximum allowed through the two official methods under ABC’s voting instructions.

A lower-risk way to vote on episode night

Open the official voting page as the live simulcast begins and confirm that the current voting window is active. If using online voting, decide how to distribute the available votes, enter the selections, and click “Save Votes.” If the allocation changes, save it again rather than assuming the page has recorded the edit.

For text voting, use the couple’s current official keyword and send it to 21523. Do not treat “Save Votes” as a text command; that instruction applies to the online form. Because text submissions cannot be changed, check the keyword and intended couple before sending each message.

Complete the process before the final competitive dance ends. ABC says voting closes shortly afterward, but the rule does not promise a long, fixed grace period. The most useful preparation is therefore not memorizing a late-night cutoff. It is being ready to vote while the live window is open.

What this guide does—and does not—establish

These rules answer the practical questions: where to vote, when to vote, how many votes each method permits, and how online selections differ from text submissions. They do not by themselves identify who will be eliminated or explain a contestant’s chances. A voting mechanic is not a public ranking, and a search for an elimination result requires separate, current official confirmation.

The key takeaway for a U.S. viewer is simple: treat voting as a live event. Use the online method when allocation flexibility matters, use text only after checking the keyword, save every online change, and do not wait for the next-day viewing window.