SAG Awards / SAG Voting Guide
A guide to the Screen Actors Guild Awards and how SAG-AFTRA members vote for the best performances
Overview
The SAG Awards (Screen Actors Guild Awards) are among the most prestigious honors in the entertainment industry, voted on entirely by SAG-AFTRA members. They are widely regarded as a key predictor of Academy Award outcomes because actors make up the largest branch of the Academy.
Every SAG-AFTRA member in good standing is eligible to vote. The nominating committee selects nominees, and then the full membership votes for winners in categories covering film and television performances. Voting is conducted online and by mail.
How It Works
For SAG-AFTRA members, participating in the awards process is both a privilege and a responsibility. Screeners and screening invitations are provided so members can view nominated performances before casting their votes.
There is no additional cost to participate in SAG Awards voting beyond maintaining your SAG-AFTRA membership in good standing. Screeners and screening events are provided free to eligible voters.
Who Uses It
Voting in the SAG Awards is one of the unique privileges of union membership. Take it seriously by watching the nominated performances and making informed choices that honor the best work of your peers. The SAG Awards ceremony has grown from a modest industry event to a nationally televised broadcast watched by millions, and its results carry significant weight in the industry because a SAG Award represents the ultimate peer recognition — actors judging actors. The awards cover both individual and ensemble performances in film and television, with the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award being unique among major ceremonies as a true ensemble recognition. For working actors at every level, participating in the voting process connects you directly to the highest levels of your profession and reinforces the democratic principles that distinguish SAG-AFTRA from other industry organizations.
Pricing & Plans
There is no separate cost to participate in SAG Awards voting — it is included as a benefit of SAG-AFTRA membership. Your SAG-AFTRA dues (currently $228.36 per year as of 2025, plus work dues calculated as a percentage of covered earnings) are the only requirement. Screeners, screening event invitations, and voting access are all provided at no additional charge. Compared to other industry awards where participation may require submission fees or event tickets, the SAG Awards voting process is entirely free for eligible members. This makes it one of the most accessible and democratic major awards processes in the entertainment industry. The voting process has been modernized significantly in recent years, with online voting now the primary method, making it convenient for members regardless of their geographic location.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The SAG Awards represent the purest form of peer recognition in the acting profession — your work is being evaluated exclusively by fellow actors who understand the nuances of performance. Winning or even being nominated carries enormous career weight, often leading to better roles, higher quotes, and increased industry visibility. The screener access alone is a significant perk, giving members free access to dozens of major films and series during awards season through both digital screeners and partnerships with streaming platforms. The voting process is well-organized, accessible, and genuinely democratic, with every member's vote counting equally regardless of fame or career stage. For newer members, the screening events also serve as valuable networking opportunities where you can connect with other working actors in a professional but relaxed setting, and the Q&A sessions that often accompany screenings provide rare insight into the creative process behind nominated performances.
What Could Be Better
The nominating committee system means that only a randomly selected subset of approximately 2,500 members determines the nominees, which some actors feel limits the democratic nature of the process at the nomination stage. Screener quality and delivery can be inconsistent — some arrive late in the season, and streaming screeners occasionally have technical issues or restrictive DRM that makes viewing frustrating on certain devices. The SAG Awards also have a more limited category structure than the Oscars or Emmys, which means many types of performances — particularly in animation, short-form content, stunt work, and emerging media — go unrecognized by the ceremony. Voter participation rates still skew heavily toward LA and NYC-based members, despite efforts to increase engagement among members in regional markets. The sheer volume of screeners during awards season can feel overwhelming — it is genuinely difficult to watch everything before the voting deadline, which can lead to name-recognition bias favoring more prominent performances over less visible work.
Our Recommendation
If you are a SAG-AFTRA member in good standing, you should absolutely participate in the voting process every year — it is one of the most meaningful privileges of union membership and a way to actively shape which performances get recognized at the industry's highest levels. The screener access and screening events are genuinely valuable perks that give you free access to content you might otherwise miss. New members especially should take advantage of screening events as networking opportunities where you can meet fellow performers in a professional context. If you are not yet a SAG-AFTRA member, the awards process is one more reason to work toward eligibility, as it represents the democratic, actor-centered values that make union membership meaningful. If you are looking for non-union awards or competitions to participate in, consider film festival submissions through platforms like FilmFreeway, or industry awards programs administered by organizations like the Independent Spirit Awards.
Pro Tips
Start watching screeners early in the season rather than trying to binge everything in the final week before the voting deadline — you will make more thoughtful choices and enjoy the process more. Attend in-person screening events whenever possible, as they often include Q&A sessions with the cast and creative team that give you deeper appreciation for the work and are excellent low-pressure networking opportunities. Make sure your SAG-AFTRA contact information is up to date so you receive all voting materials and screener access codes promptly — log into your SAG-AFTRA account and verify your email and mailing address before awards season begins each fall. If you are in a regional market outside LA or NYC, check for virtual screening events and digital screener access, which have expanded significantly in recent years and ensure that geographic location does not prevent you from making informed voting choices. Discuss nominated performances with fellow members — the conversations around awards season are some of the richest professional discussions you will have as an actor, and they deepen your appreciation for the range and depth of performance work happening across the industry.