Votes determining the Heisman Trophy winner come from three separate groups.
First, 870 votes come from the media. This group includes sports journalists, broadcasters and other media members nationwide. Each voter is allowed to select three players on their ballot, with their first-place vote worth three points, their second-place vote worth two points, and their third-place vote worth one point.
Then, 57 former Heisman winners (every living winner) are invited to cast a ballot for the current year’s award.
Finally, there’s one collective fan vote. This group is made up of fans who cast their votes online through a process called the “Heisman Fan Vote.” The fan vote is counted as one additional ballot and counts for one vote toward the overall total.
Once all the votes are in, the independent accounting firm Deloitte tabulates the results. The winner is then announced during a live ceremony on national television.