Record levels of postal votes are set be cast across the district in both the General Election and local election being held on May 6.

Ballot packs are being sent out to the 58,702 people who have applied to vote by post in the General Election and the 59,328 who want a postal vote for the Bradford Council elections.

This is nearly 10,000 more than in 2008 for the last Council elections.

New procedures were introduced in 2007 to combat election fraud which involve checking signatures and dates of birth using a scanner against those on a database compiled after the Council wrote to everyone in the district registered for postal voting.

The Council also has a “no touch” policy with regard to postal ballots – a code all parties, candidates and canvassers must sign up to.

Six allegations of impropriety surrounding the elections have been referred to the police. Three of these relate to electoral fraud, and one to publishing false statements.

A spokesman for the Council said: “The Council works closely in conjunction with the police and follows the Electoral Commission and Association of Chief Police Officers guidance in relation to allegations of fraud. Political parties will be invited to sign a voluntary declaration on the code of conduct on the handling of postal votes.”

A spokesman for the police said: “Still under investigation are three allegations of fraudulent postal votes and an allegation of making or publishing false statements of fact about character or conduct. No arrests made in relation to any of these allegations.”

In addition a high-profile case is proceeding through the courts with four men accused of vote-rigging in the run up to the 2005 General Election. A trial is expected later this year.