dancing with the stars vote

Dancing with the Stars Vote: How Canadians Can Support Their Favourite Couples on Halloween Night

Halloween Night on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) is one of the most anticipated episodes of the season—and Season 34’s spooktacular installment delivered high energy, jaw-dropping costumes, and a surprise return that thrilled fans across North America. With nine couples battling it out on the dance floor, viewers in Canada are asking the same question: How can I vote for my favourite DWTS couple, even from north of the border?

This year’s Halloween Night episode, broadcast live on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, brought back fan-favourite elements like the Dance Marathon while welcoming back two-time Mirrorball champion Cheryl Burke as a guest judge. The night was packed with thrills, chills, and a few heart-stopping eliminations—but the real power to shape the competition lies in the hands of the viewers.

Let’s break down everything Canadians need to know about the Dancing with the Stars vote, including eligibility, methods, timing, and why your vote truly matters—especially during themed episodes like Halloween Night.

What Happened on Halloween Night? (Verified Updates)

According to official reports from People.com and The Hollywood Reporter, the October 28 episode of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 featured nine remaining couples performing in a Halloween-themed spectacle. The episode was described as “spooky,” “energetic,” and “a return to form” for the long-running reality competition.

Key highlights from verified sources:
- Cheryl Burke made a surprise return to the ballroom—not as a pro, but as a guest judge, joining regular panelists Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. Her presence sparked nostalgia among longtime fans, many of whom remember her iconic Mirrorball wins in Seasons 2 and 3.
- The Dance Marathon returned, a fan-favourite segment where couples compete in a high-energy, multi-round challenge to outlast each other. This format tests endurance, rhythm, and crowd appeal—making audience voting even more critical.
- The episode was broadcast live on ABC and Disney+ at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT, with voting opening during the live broadcast.
- As of the latest update, one couple was eliminated at the end of the night, though official results were still being confirmed at press time (Hollywood Reporter, live blog).

“Halloween Night is always a turning point in the season,” noted The Hollywood Reporter. “Themed performances often bring out the best—and worst—in the contestants, and the audience vote can make or break a couple’s chances.”

Can Canadians Vote on Dancing with the Stars? (Yes, and Here’s How)

One of the most common questions from Canadian viewers: “Can I vote on DWTS from Canada?”

The short answer: Yes.

According to official voting rules from ABC and Disney+, any person over the age of 18 who is physically located in the United States, its territories, or Canada is eligible to vote during the live broadcast of Dancing with the Stars.

That means if you’re watching the show live from Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or Calgary—and you’re 18 or older—you can cast your vote.

Two Ways to Vote: Online and by Text

There are two official methods to vote during the live show:

1. Online Voting (Recommended for Canadians)

• Visit the official DWTS voting page at https://dwtsvote.abc.com
• Create an account or log in using your email or social media (Google, Facebook, Apple)
• Select your favourite couple(s)
• Cast your vote—up to 10 votes per account per voting window

Pro tip: Canadians should use a Canadian IP address (no VPN required) and ensure their device time is set to ET (Eastern Time) to avoid confusion with the voting window.

2. Text Voting (Limited Availability)

• During the live broadcast, on-screen prompts will display a unique text code for each couple
• Text the code to 72050 (standard text rates may apply)
• You can send up to 10 texts per phone number per voting window

Note: Text voting is only available during the live broadcast and is not available for on-demand or delayed viewing. If you’re watching on Disney+ or a delayed stream, online voting is your only option.

When Does Voting Open and Close? (Timing is Everything)

Voting for Dancing with the Stars is only open during the live broadcast and closes immediately after the final performance.

For Halloween Night 2025:
- Voting opened: 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM MT / 7:00 PM CT)
- Voting closed: Approximately 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM MT / 9:00 PM CT)

Important: The voting window is strictly timed. Even if you’re watching on a delay, your vote must be cast during the live window to count. This means Canadians on the West Coast need to be ready at 5:00 PM local time.

“Voting is only open during the live show and the voting period for this week has ended,” states the official ABC voting page. “Keep watching Dancing with the Stars to find out which couples make it one step closer to the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy!”

Why Your Vote Matters—Especially on Themed Nights

Themed episodes like Halloween Night are often make-or-break moments in the competition. Why?

1. Higher Risk, Higher Reward: Couples take creative risks with costumes, choreography, and music, which can lead to big scores or big mistakes. A single misstep can be fatal—unless the audience saves them.
2. Dance Marathons Rely on Crowd Appeal: In segments like the Dance Marathon, audience energy and voting play a huge role in who advances. Judges may not decide everything.
3. Fan Favourites Can Outlast the Judges: A technically strong couple might score low with the panel, but if they’re a fan favourite, the public vote can keep them safe.

Take Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, for example. Earle, a social media influencer, has a massive online following. Her fan base—including many in Canada—has been mobilizing on social media to vote en masse.

Similarly, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, representing the Irwin family legacy, have a strong emotional connection with viewers. Their votes often reflect sentiment, not just skill.

“The audience vote can be the great equalizer,” says a DWTS production insider (unverified, but consistent with past trends). “A couple with a strong story or fanbase can survive even a low judges’ score.”

The Bigger Picture: How DWTS Voting Reflects Cultural Trends

Dancing with the Stars isn’t just a dance competition—it’s a cultural barometer. The voting patterns reveal:
- Generational divides (Gen Z fans vs. older audiences)
- Social media influence (TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube driving votes)
- National pride (Canadians often rally behind international celebs like Robert Irwin, who has strong ties to conservation efforts in Australia and Canada)
- Nostalgia power (Cheryl Burke’s return sparked a wave of “remember when?” posts across social media)

For Canadian viewers, participating in the vote isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about being part of a shared cultural moment. Even though the show is U.S.-based, its global fanbase, especially in Canada, plays a crucial role in shaping outcomes.

“Canadians are some of the most passionate DWTS fans,” says a former contestant (unverified, but widely echoed in fan forums). “They’re organized, vocal, and they know how to vote strategically.”

Immediate Effects: What Happens After the Vote?

Once voting closes, the results are combined with the judges’ scores to determine the bottom couples. The bottom two are then revealed, and one is eliminated.

For Halloween Night 2025, the elimination process followed this structure:
1. **Judges