A LOOPHOLE in the electoral system could allow thousands of students in Southampton to vote twice in the General Election - raising once again the spectre of electoral fraud.

Students are given the option to vote both at their home address - and at their address while at university - opening up the possibility that they could vote twice.

Ballot cards are sent to both addresses beforehand and in many cases, the option of a postal vote is offered in the parent's constituency.

And experts agree that there is no way of checking if the student has voted twice - both in his or her university constituency and at his or her parents.

The news follows fears that the postal voting system could also be open to fraud after a recent voting scandal in Birmingham.

Portsmouth's Highbury College Politics lecturer David Kett said: "This is not a new issue, but now that this government has publicised postal votes and made them easier to obtain, the possibility of voting twice, illegal though it is, is open to more people."

He added that the same inadequate system applied to other people in the community such as those who own holiday or weekend homes."

He added: "Southampton is one of these. Political parties are aware of the importance of student votes and how they can swing the polls."

According to the Higher education Statistics Agency, there are more than two million students in higher education, over half of which are full time.

According to the 2003/04 Student Returns the agency estimates that about 236,000 full-time students live at their parental home nationwide.

Southampton Institute student Duncan Jefferies, 22, said: "My girlfriend received two ballot cards. Iraqis were forced to blacken their fingerws after voting earlier this year, yet we are reliant on the integrity of the electorate."

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said they were aware of the situation. He said: "Students are entitled to be registered in both locations as we realise they are involved in, and want to have a say in, the political process."

For more on the 2005 General Election campaign - see pages 8 & 9 of today's Daily Echo.