So even if a couple is low in one area, they can stick around if they’re high in another.
“This is where it comes into play where sometimes the bottom of the leaderboard couple maybe has only 25 percent of that score pie, but they got 80 percent of the vote pie and that surpasses some people who maybe have higher scores,” the dancer added. “Vice versa—maybe some of those people who are getting really high scores and have 90 percent of that score pie are only getting 10 percent of votes, but it’s still high.”
This is why both the scores and the votes matter.
“What I’m trying to say is it really does even itself out,” Lindsay shared. “Because, like I said, if you have low scores but you’re getting a majority of the votes, that could be enough to help you surpass somebody who’s maybe getting higher scores. But also, if you have really high scores but low votes, that still could keep you in because those scores can help.”
And while fans can still be frustrated if their favorite team goes home, she suggested the system ultimately works. In fact, the 31-year-old said she’s “been on both sides of the spectrum” in terms of getting high scores but a low number of votes as well as low scores but a higher amount of votes—recalling how her season 21 partner Alek Skarlatos “wasn’t the best dancer, but a lot of people really loved him” and they made it to the final three.
“It happens across the board and it’s good,” Lindsay stated. “Because if you’re dancing really, really, really well, then you’re going to get high scores and won’t have to rely as much on votes.”
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