DWTS Producers Finally Reveal Why Vote Numbers Stay Secret

Here’s the Real Reason Fans Will Never See the Exact Vote Count

"Dancing with the Stars" is officially racing toward its Season 34 finale, and fans everywhere are glued to their screens, nervously refreshing voting apps and rooting for their favorite couples. But while the excitement keeps rising, there’s one mystery the show’s producers are never planning to solve — the exact number of audience votes.

With nonstop buzz online and growing demands for transparency, many viewers have been asking the same question: Why won’t DWTS ever reveal the real voting numbers? Well, executive producer and showrunner Conrad Green has finally explained the truth — and the answer might surprise you.

Why DWTS Will Never Share the Real Vote Count

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on November 25, 2025 (ET), Conrad Green made it very clear that the voting numbers are staying locked away for good. According to him, revealing those stats could actually discourage fans from voting and unfairly influence future results.

“I’d prefer not to,” he said. “Releasing the stats has a very strong chance of disincentivizing people from taking part or might affect the votes going forward. Like any election, you don’t want to prejudice the voting system.”

In simple words: if fans knew who was leading every week, many would stop voting altogether—or vote strategically instead of emotionally. And that would completely change the spirit of the show.

 

 

 

 

 

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So… How Does Voting Actually Work on DWTS?

Yep, the public vote really does matter — a lot. Conrad Green revealed that elimination decisions are split 50/50 between:

• Judges’ scores from Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli

• The public’s votes

Each couple earns ranking points based on where they land on the judges’ leaderboard. Those points are then combined with viewer votes. And if there’s ever a tie? The couple with the lowest public vote total goes home. No mercy.

Why Public Voting Is Such a Big Deal

According to Green, the voting system is crucial because DWTS often features a mix of trained dancers and total beginners. Some contestants like Elaine Hendrix, Hilaria Baldwin, Whitney Leavitt, and Alix Earle have dance backgrounds. On the flip side, stars like Dylan Efron, Robert Irwin, and Andy Richter walk in with little to no dance experience.

That’s where the public steps in — to level the playing field and keep things fair for everyone.

“These two things can live together in the same show and still feel great,” Green explained.

Season 34 Is Already a Big Win

Beyond the drama, Green shared how proud he is of how Season 34 has connected with viewers. He said the joy and engagement from fans — especially new ones — has been incredibly rewarding.

“To see new people engaging with it has been a great pleasure,” he added. “I’m very proud of the show and everyone who works on it.”