Academy extends voting deadline for Oscar nominations
An Oscar stands on the podium in front of a projection of an Oscar before the start of the 84th Academy Awards Nominations Announcement, January 24, 2012 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California.
Voting for Oscar nominations has been extended by a day after glitches with a new online voting system.
The 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will have until January 4 to lodge their votes for the year’s best films, performances, directors, screenplay and other achievements, Reuters reported.
The BBC reported that it is the first time organizers of the film industry’s awards night has allowed its members to vote online, and it has been less than successful.
Some members had difficulties accessing the website, while others found it confusing, the BBC reported.
Concern that there would be a record-low turnout of voters prompted the academy to take action.
"By extending the voting deadline we are providing every opportunity available to make the transition to online balloting as smooth as possible," said the academy's chief operating officer, Ric Robertson, in a statement cited by the Associated Press.
"We're grateful to our global membership for joining us in this process."