Last year, eyebrows were raised when members of the media were not permitted to screen the nominees' submission reels. This year, the bone of contention comes in the nomination process itself.

According to insiders, some technicians, classified as assistants, were not permitted to vote because of a vague rule. Some New York-based NATAS [National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences] members were told that this rule change meant that they were no longer eligible to vote. Meanwhile, their West Coast counterparts were eligible to vote.

The reason, the source tells Soap Opera Central, is that the East Coast and West Coast technicians are represented by different unions. While their jobs may be similar, each union has a different job title.

Obviously, the rule change favors the West Coast based soaps (General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives and Passions).

Meanwhile, there are also reports that turnout for voting was "poor" in New York. Elsewhere, some performers were inadvertently called to vote in categories in which they were nominated. Those performers excused themselves from the voting.

This year's ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS on Friday, May 20th, from New York City's Radio City Music Hall.