AN investigation has been launched after a student in the city claimed he was able to vote twice in the General Election.

Jack Matthews, a third-year science student at St Peter’s College, in Oxford, alleged he was told “a quirk for students” meant they could cast two votes.

However, Oxford City Council – responsible for overseeing the Oxford East election – said it would be asking staff manning the polling station for an explanation and insisted two votes were not allowed.

The 21-year-old went to vote in a polling station in Oxford East, where Labour’s Andrew Smith won with a 4,581 majority.

He said: “I handed in my polling cards and said that I would only be voting in the local city council elections. At this point the polling official said that I could vote in the General Election as well.

“I then explained that I had already voted by postal vote in my home constituency of South Staffordshire.

“The polling official replied to this by saying it was okay for students to vote twice and it was a quirk for students. Slightly stunned, I replied it would be illegal to vote twice in a General Election.

“The polling officer turned to her neighbour at the table looking very confused and replied to me that no-one would know.

“I was surprised by the fact that I had to explain electoral law to a polling official and with the answers I received.”

Mr Matthews said he immediately contacted an election officer at Oxford City Council to express his concern.

He did not vote.

Meanwhile, Green Party city councillor Nuala Young said she would write to the returning officer to demand an inquiry into whether significant illegal voting took place in the two city constituencies – Oxford East and Oxford West & Abingdon.

She said the claim students were encouraged to act illegally also needed to be urgently investigated.

Jeremy Thomas, the returning officer at Oxford City Council, said: “It is a criminal offence for any elector to vote more than once in a Parliamentary election.

“If anyone is aware of an elector who did so then they should contact us and we will refer the allegation to the police.

“To the extent that it is alleged that inaccurate advice was given by polling staff at one of our 76 polling stations, we will be seeking an account from the staff involved and if that is true then they will not be used on electoral duty again.”

Some confusion may have resulted from the fact that many students have dual registration when it comes to local elections, which allows them to vote at their student or home addresses.

But Mr Thomas said: “All polling station staff received training before polling day on this issue.”

Jonny Medland, Oxford University Student Union vice-president for access and academic affairs, said: “I was shocked to hear polling clerks were advising students that they could break electoral law by voting in multiple constituencies.

“It’s a positive reflection on students that those who were offered this opportunity rejected it and have taken steps to publicise the incorrect guidance.”

Sushila Dhall, who stood as the Green Party candidate in Oxford East, said: “I have had students tell me that they received two polling cards, allowing them to vote here and at home. That is not supposed to happen.”