Netflix Is Rolling Out a Live Voting Feature

Netflix is introducing a new interactive feature that lets viewers participate in live voting during select programs. The company announced that the feature will officially debut with the premiere of its livestreamed talent competition, “Star Search,” scheduled for January 20.

With this update, subscribers watching live content will be able to participate by selecting answers from a multiple-choice poll or rating performances on a five-star scale. Voting can be done either directly via a TV remote or via the Netflix mobile app, enabling participation across devices.

According to Netflix, the live voting functionality will be available to users worldwide. On the technical side, votes will be collected and counted in real time. Each voting window will remain open for a limited period, and once that window closes, any additional votes will no longer be accepted. As a result, viewers who watch the program after it airs live will not be able to take part in the voting process.

The streaming service first began experimenting with live voting in August 2025 during “Dinner Time Live with David Chang.” Later, at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Netflix chief technology officer Elizabeth Stone confirmed that the company planned to expand the feature to a broader audience in the near future.

Stone explained that viewers watching “Star Search” at home on their televisions can submit votes either through their TVs or their mobile phones, directly influencing whether contestants advance in the competition. She described the feature as an early step toward making content more interactive over time.

She added that Netflix sees this as part of a broader vision where content becomes increasingly immersive across devices, allowing members to feel more connected to what they are watching. By enabling viewers to influence outcomes and storylines, the company aims to make subscribers feel like active participants rather than passive audiences.

Netflix has been steadily increasing its focus on live programming, with shows such as “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney” and “Dinner Time Live with David Chang,” as well as live sports content, including an NFL Christmas broadcast and WWE programming. In October, the company also introduced interactive games designed for smart TVs. With the launch of live voting, Netflix is now bringing together its push into live entertainment and interactive experiences into a single feature.