Dancing with the Stars voting hits record-breaking 50M as Halloween Night airs

Dancing with the Stars shattered voting records on Oct. 28, 2025 during Halloween Night. The Season 34 episode drew 50+ million fan votes cast across all platforms. Cheryl Burke returned as guest judge for the spooky celebration. The show continues its record-breaking momentum this season.

Halloween Night Breaks Voting Records

Dancing with the Stars proved fans are more engaged than ever. The Oct. 28 Halloween episode attracted 50.15 million total votes. This represented an 11% spike compared to the previous week.

Viewers cast up to 10 votes per person using text or online voting. The massive turnout reflects genuine audience investment in Season 34. Every couple remaining fought hard for survival during the spooky celebration.

“Fan voting jumped week to week yet again, reaching a new high of 50.15 million votes cast.”

The record comes after Dedication Night previously hit 50 million votes. Now Halloween Night officially surpassed that milestone. The show’s unprecedented growth continues unabated this season.

Why This Voting Surge Matters

Record voting numbers signal that Dance with the Stars attracts devoted fans. The engagement shows viewers remain deeply invested in every elimination. Social media amplifies interest exponentially each episode.

For celebrities competing on the show, massive voting totals create pressure. Couples with strong fan bases advance further into the competition. Others face surprise eliminations despite excellent judge scores.

This season sparked controversy over voting fairness. Multiple professional dancers raised concerns about potential judge bias. Viewers complained about inconsistent scoring and unexpected eliminations of strong competitors.

The 50 million vote milestone proves demand exists for updated systems. DWTS leadership acknowledged these complaints. Changes are coming to address audience concerns about equity and accessibility.

Metric	Halloween Night 2025	Previous Record	Change
Total Votes	50.15 Million	50 Million (Dedication Night)	+0.15 Million
Week-to-Week Growth	+11%	45 Million (Oct 7)	+5.15 Million
Competing Couples	Nine Pairs	Various weeks	Mid-season
Voting Method	Text + Online	Same	No change

Halloween Night delivered the expected spooky magic. But the voting numbers exceeded all expectations. Networks rarely see such explosive engagement on a single episode.

The Halloween Night Dance Performances

Nine celebrities performed Halloween-themed dances. Guest judge Cheryl Burke joined the regular judges panel. Professional dancers included top competitors from previous seasons.

The episode featured a Dance Marathon, a fan-favorite format. All couples danced simultaneously while judges eliminated pairs sequentially. The last couple standing claimed victory for the night.

Competitors included Jordan Chiles, Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Danielle Fishel, and Dylan Efron. Each brought unique energy to Halloween-inspired choreography. Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck also competed.

Cheryl Burke praised authentic interpretations of spooky themes. She encouraged “constructive feedback” and acknowledged growth throughout Season 34. Her return as guest judge brought credibility and nostalgia.

What Comes Next for Voting?

DWTS officially announced voting system changes for Season 35. Production plans to modernize the entire voting process.

Current voting relies primarily on text-to-phone submissions. Online voting exists but generates fewer submissions. ABC intends to integrate social media platforms into future voting.

• Expand accessibility across multiple voting channels beyond texting
• Incorporate social media voting to reach wider audiences
• Address judge bias concerns raised by professionals and viewers
• Level the playing field for less social-media-savvy celebrities
• Maintain voting integrity while improving user experience

These changes reflect industry-wide trends toward digital flexibility. Younger viewers expect streaming and social options. Traditional text voting skews older and excludes some audiences.

How Does This Compare to Prior Voting Records?

Season 34 continuously breaks engagement benchmarks week after week. The 50.15 million vote total dwarfs previous records from earlier seasons.

Early seasons rarely recorded comprehensive voting totals. Modern platforms track every vote instantly. Three-hour viewing windows allow fans multiple voting opportunities.

Dedication Night on Oct. 14 previously hit 50 million votes. That episode honored loved ones with emotional performances. Halloween Night exceeded it marginally but proved consistency.

The rising engagement trend suggests Season 34 resonates deeply. Celebrity participants generate organic fandoms. Strong pairings between celebrities and professionals fuel voting battles. Long-time fans vote strategically to protect favorites.

What’s your prediction for the finale? Will voting records climb even higher as competition narrows toward the Nov. 25 finale?

Sources

• ABC Press – Official ratings and voting statistics for Dancing with the Stars Season 34
• The Hollywood Reporter – Halloween Night scores, judge commentary, and episode recap
• Yahoo Entertainment – Voting system overhaul announcement and future season plans

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