The Ultimate DWTS Voting Guide: 3 Ways To Cast Your Vote And The Exact Number To Text

Are you ready to cast your vote and save your favorite couple from elimination? As of the latest seasons of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), including the highly anticipated Season 34 and upcoming Season 35, the process for fan voting remains a high-stakes, real-time event. The most direct and traditional way to support a celebrity-pro pairing is through the official text message (SMS) system, which requires knowing the single, crucial number.

The core of the DWTS fan engagement lies in the voting window, a short, intense period where your support directly impacts who takes home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. This comprehensive guide, updated for the current 2025 season, breaks down the exact text number, the required keyword, and the critical rules you must follow to ensure your votes count.

The Essential DWTS Voting Number and Method Explained

The question, "What number do you text for Dancing with the Stars?" is one of the most frequently asked questions during the live show. The answer is surprisingly simple, yet crucial to get right, as the entire voting window is extremely limited.

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The Official DWTS Text Voting Number

For viewers in the United States, the single, official number used for text voting is 21523. This short code has been the standard for recent seasons, including Season 34, and is the primary gateway for fans who prefer the speed and simplicity of SMS voting over the online method.

However, simply texting the number is not enough. To ensure your vote goes to the correct celebrity-professional dance couple, you must include a specific keyword in the body of your text message.

How to Text Your Vote Correctly

The DWTS voting system uses unique keywords for each couple. These keywords are typically the first name of the celebrity contestant. For instance, if you were voting for a contestant named Alix, you would text the word ALIX to the number 21523.

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• The Number: 21523
• The Message: The unique keyword for your chosen couple (e.g., the celebrity's first name).
• Confirmation: You should receive a one-time confirmation message following your first vote for a couple in each voting window.

It is absolutely vital to check the onscreen graphics during the live broadcast or the official DWTS website (dwtsvote.abc.com) for the precise keyword associated with your favorite couple, as they can occasionally change or be unique. Using the wrong keyword means your vote will not be tallied for your intended pair.

The Critical 10-Vote Limit and Other Rules

Understanding the voting limits and eligibility is just as important as knowing the text number. Fans often make the mistake of over-voting, which means any votes beyond the limit are simply discarded. This is a core element of the *Dancing with the Stars* voting rules designed to keep the competition fair.

The Golden Rule: 10 Votes Per Method

You are allowed to cast up to 10 votes per couple using each of the two official voting methods: SMS text and online. This means you can cast a maximum of 10 votes via text message (to 21523) and another 10 votes online (via dwtsvote.abc.com) for the same couple, giving you a total of 20 potential votes per pair each week.

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This dual-method approach is a powerful way for dedicated fans to maximize their support. If you only use the text number, you are only utilizing half of your voting power.

The Non-Negotiable Voting Window

DWTS voting is a live, time-sensitive event. The voting window is incredibly short, typically opening at the start of the live show at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and closing immediately after the final dance of the night.

For viewers in other time zones, this means:

• If you are watching on the West Coast (Pacific Time, PT), you must vote at the beginning of the broadcast, even if you are watching a slightly delayed feed, as the live vote closes based on the Eastern Time zone.
• Votes cast before the official opening or after the closing of the window will not be counted.

The speed and accuracy of your vote are paramount, making the text number 21523 a favorite for those who want to vote quickly and ensure they beat the clock.

The Alternative: Online Voting via ABC/Disney+

While the text number 21523 is the fastest way to cast a vote, the second official method—online voting—offers more flexibility, especially for those who want to distribute their 10 votes across multiple couples.

How to Vote Online

The official website for online voting is dwtsvote.abc.com. To vote online, you must:

1. Visit the official website during the voting window.
2. Log in or create a free account.
3. You will see a list of all the competing couples.
4. You can distribute your 10 votes to a single couple or split them among several couples (e.g., 5 votes for one couple and 5 for another).
5. Unlike text voting, the online platform allows you to change your vote distribution until the voting window officially closes.

The show airs on both ABC and streams live on Disney+, making it accessible to a wide audience. The online voting portal is the same regardless of which platform you are watching on.

Geographic Restrictions and Eligibility

A crucial detail for the text voting method is the geographic restriction. SMS voting is only available to viewers in the United States. Fans attempting to text their votes from outside the U.S., such as from Canada, will find their votes are not registered. For international viewers who wish to participate, the online voting method is typically the only viable option, provided they are in an eligible region and can access the official website.

The Current DWTS Landscape: Season 34 & Beyond

To maintain topical authority, it’s essential to know who is currently guiding the competition. The voting process is a critical element of the show's structure, which is overseen by a consistent panel of experts and hosts.

The Hosts and Judges

The latest seasons, including Season 34 (which premiered in September 2025), saw the return of beloved figures who define the show's experience:

• Hosts: The charismatic duo of Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough continued their roles, bringing energy and professionalism to the ballroom.
• Judges: The judging panel, responsible for giving the couples their scores that combine with the fan votes, consisted of the long-standing experts: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.

The Importance of Fan Votes

The judges' scores (from Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli) are combined with the fan votes to determine which couple is eliminated each week. This synergy between expert critique and popular support is what makes the competition so compelling. A high score from the judges can be nullified by low fan support, and vice-versa. This means every single text vote you send to 21523 or every click you make on dwtsvote.abc.com is critical for your favorite celebrity-pro pairs, such as the Season 34 winners Robert and Witney, or fan favorites like Val Chmerkovskiy and his partners.

Whether you choose the quick text method to 21523 or the flexible online platform, your participation is what fuels the drama and excitement of Dancing with the Stars. Make sure you are voting within the correct window and adhering to the 10-vote limit to give your chosen couple the best chance at reaching the finale and lifting the Mirrorball Trophy.