Is New ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Voting System Rigged? Fans React To Judges’ Save, Live Tallies

Dancing with the Stars new voting system — Some fans don’t like the new voting system on Season 28 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Pictured L-R: Brandon Armstrong, Mary Wilson, Tom Bergeron, Erin Andrews, Cheryl Burke and Ray Lewis. ABC/Eric McCandless

“Dancing With the Stars” has officially unveiled its brand-new voting system that saw the ouster of one Season 28 couple during the second week of competition, but some aren’t feeling the new additions are a good idea for the long-running ABC series.

The show revealed that viewers would be able to vote only during the show’s live broadcast between 8-10 p.m. EDT, via text and online platforms. Meanwhile, the judges’ scores from the first two weeks of competition would be combined with those votes to determine who was saved, and which teams were in the bottom two. After the teams in that position were revealed, the judges would then have the deciding vote on which team went home, and which one stayed. After Mary Wilson and Brandon Armstrong (#TeamSupreme) and Ray Lewis and Cheryl Burke (#TeamRAVENous) were revealed to have the lowest total, the judges opted to save the former NFL Hall of Famer, saying goodbye instead to the legendary singer.

Now, fans are sounding off on the fact that their votes may no longer determine the exact outcome as much, and while there may be some who don’t like that they’re actually only voting for the bottom two, many fans actually feel the save is a good idea.

In an Instagram post, Judge Carrie Ann Inaba asked fans if they liked the new addition to the show’s voting system, and many responded that they felt it was a positive change for the competition.

“I think this will help balance out the votes from the people who vote just for who they like not necessarily who is the best dancer,” one fan commented.

“I like that the judges have a little more clout...you guys, to me, SHOULD have more of a say because you are basing your scores on how well they are executing the dance. I don’t want it to simply be a popularity contest,” another chimed in.

“I love that the judge’s get to have the last vote,” another added.

However, some fans are expressing some upset still over the fact that the new system favors voters on the East Coast and central time zones, who are able to vote as they watch the performances. However, West Coast voters, while they can vote live, are only able to vote based on who they like, but not on whether or not they enjoy the newest routine. That isn’t sitting well with those fans, who feel that for them, the show is once again being restricted to a popularity contest.

#DWTS I am extremely upset about the new voting system for DWTS. The entire western half of the US has been disenfranchised. If we vote before we see them, it becomes just a popularity contest rather than based on the actual performances.This was a bad decision by DWTS and ABC!
— Gail Evans (@gail_gevans15) September 24, 2019

However, regardless of what fans think of the system, it appears to be staying put throughout the season. Carrie Ann revealed in her post that the new save was set to be a permanent addition.

“I was sad to see the legendary @mwilsonsupreme and @brandon_armstrong94 go home last night but this is how it works now,” she wrote.

As of now, based on average judges' scores, the remaining couples stand as follows: