Netflix Live Voting Is Finally Here, Kicks Off Tonight With Its Star Search Reboot

Last updated: 2026/01/20 at 2:07 PM

News Room Published 20 January 2026

Netflix continues to build out its live programming with sports events, stand-up specials, and award shows, and now it will let you vote on and influence select reality TV shows.

The real-time voting tool has been teased for the last few months, but it debuts today on the platform’s new Star Search reality show. Netflix says the votes collected during the show will determine who advances in the competition and who is knocked out.

Voting is only available to those watching shows live. For Star Search, that means viewers need to tune in at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, starting on Jan. 20.

If you watch the show back later, you won’t be able to vote. The same applies if you rewind the show or pause for too long, as you’ll miss what Netflix calls its “limited voting window.” Make sure you’re running the latest version of the software to participate. For undisclosed reasons, the feature won’t work for those watching through a web browser.

The voting option will appear at the bottom of the screen across all smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile apps. You’ll see five stars, and you can use your remote or tap your screen to rate the performance before the timer at the bottom of the screen runs out. You can submit one rating per Netflix profile per performance, and votes are final. Results will be announced later in the episode.

Netflix says voting will influence shows in different ways, depending on the title. “The weighting of the audience vote may vary for each show that includes real-time voting. Tune in live to understand the rules for a particular show.”

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We don’t yet know where else Netflix will use this tech. Could we one day see a live episode of Is It Cake? We’ll have to wait and see.

Having viewers vote for their favorites on competition shows is nothing new; American Idol dates back to 2002 in the US. However, the Netflix push comes as Dancing With the Stars on ABC saw its ratings spike this past season, as did Love Island on Peacock.