“American Idol” offers online voting for the first time ever

"American Idol's" Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson - Fox Photo by Tony Duran

“American Idol” will allow viewers to vote for their favorite contestants online for the first time ever immediately after the first performance show airing from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 1 on Fox, according to a news release.

To vote online during the voting window, fans can go to www.americanidol.com and follow the instructions.

Fans will be required to log in using their Facebook account to access the voting page for the show, which will feature the name and photo of each of the current contestants.

Fans can then choose their favorite contestant, complete the security verification and submit their vote.

Fans may cast up to 50 total online votes after each performance show during the online voting window.

Viewers also have the opportunity to vote via toll-free phone lines and – if you’re an AT&T wireless customer – via text message. AT&T customers can submit unlimited text votes during the voting window.

Phone lines will be open for at least two hours after each performance show and fans can vote for their favorite contestant using the branded toll-free numbers (1-866-IDOLS-01, -02, etc.)

AT&T wireless customers can use their cell phones to vote by texting the word  “VOTE” to the four-digit short code (5701, 5702, etc.) that goes with the contestant of their choice.