How are contestants eliminated on Dancing With the Stars?

Eliminations on Dancing With the Stars are determined by a 50/50 split between the scores given by the judges and the votes cast by the public.

Why won't Dancing With the Stars reveal its vote counts?

The show's producer believes that revealing vote counts could discourage contestants and negatively influence future voting patterns.

What is the weight of judge scores vs. public votes on DWTS?

Both the judges' scores and the public's votes are equally weighted at 50% each in determining which contestants advance.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / DWTS Secrets: Votes, Scores, and Behind-the-Scenes Drama

DWTS Secrets: Votes, Scores, and Behind-the-Scenes Drama

26 Nov, 2025

•

Summary

Producer Conrad Green will not reveal contestant vote counts.
Judge scores and public votes are equally weighted at 50% each.
Revealing voting data could impact future contestant participation.

DWTS Secrets: Votes, Scores, and Behind-the-Scenes Drama

Executive producer Conrad Green has shed light on the inner workings of Dancing With the Stars, specifically addressing the secrecy surrounding contestant vote counts. Green emphasized that this sensitive data will not be publicly disclosed, as revealing it could potentially deter future participants and sway the outcome of upcoming votes.

Green likened the process to elections, where transparency of specific polling data is avoided to prevent pre-judging the results. This approach aims to maintain the integrity of the competition and ensure that all contestants have a fair chance throughout the season.

The show's format for eliminations relies on a balanced system, with the judges' scores and the public's votes each contributing 50% to the final decision. This ensures that both expert critiques from judges like Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli, and viewer support play an equal role in determining who advances.