After several returning voters reported an irregularity, Comic-Con International: San Diego has temporarily shut down the voting website for the 2020 Will Eisner Comic Book Industry Awards.
"We have closed voting and are investigating the situation," SDCC Chief Communications and Strategy Officer David Glanzer told Newsarama. "We will make an announcement as we have additional information. We're sorry for the inconvenience to voters."
Issues with voting on the "Oscars of comics" first came up after a few returning voters found some of their personal information had been changed for unknown reasons. However, this was not the first time the Eisner Awards had faced voting irregularities. In 1990, the awards ceremony was canceled after the organizers found there had been a voting mix-up in the nominee selection process. After the incident, Comic-Con took over the voting and selection process for the awards.
Before the site was shut down, the Eisner Awards voting deadline had been changed from June 18 to June 22. Currently, it is currently unknown if the shutdown will affect the announcement of the winners in July. The actual ceremony was canceled due to San Diego Comic-Con shifting from a physical event to the virtual Comic-Con@Home.