Postal votes can 'make life easier'

The increase is said to have occurred because of a relaxation in the rules, but there are concerns it could make it easier for fraudulent votes to be cast.

Some areas have seen up to a 10-fold increase in people wanting to vote by post compared to 2001.

Returning officers are checking identification papers sent with ballots to ensure votes are genuine.

'Hopelessly insecure'

Two vote-rigging scandals involving postal voting in Birmingham and Blackburn led to some strong statements about the security of the system.

A judge investigating the Birmingham case branded postal voting "hopelessly insecure" and "wide open to fraud".

In Somerset's Taunton constituency, the Conservatives won the seat with a 235 majority in the last election. The number of postal vote applications for 5 May has increased from 4,000 in 2001 to 11,700 for this election.

In South Dorset, Labour took the seat with a majority of 153. For the 2005 election, the Purbeck District Council area has seen an increase in post vote requests from 800 in 2001 to 3,500.

The Electoral Reform Society recommends traditional methods

But one of the most noticeable increases has been in the Torridge and West Devon constituency, which was won by the Liberal Democrats in 2001 with a majority of 1,200.

It has seen a 10-fold increase from 1,000 postal applications for the 2001 ballot to 10,000 for 5 May.

BBC South West Political Editor Chris Rogers said: "There is no suggestion that anything untoward is being done by any parties in the region. Postal votes can make life easier, but the increases have been quite significant.

"Local returning officers are to be extra vigilant over identification papers that have to sent back with the ballot, although that means an extra workload for all of their staff."

The Electoral Reform Society says although it agreed with the concept of postal voting, the system as it stood was a "cheat's charter", and only those really in need of a postal vote should apply for one.