THOUSANDS of voters in Oxford and Abingdon – including the leader of Vale of White Horse District Council – have been hit by an election bungle, it emerged yesterday.

On Saturday, the Oxford Mail reported that tens of thousands of polling cards had been sent to people in the Wantage constituency telling them to go to the wrong polling stations for the General Election.

It has now emerged that voters in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency have also been affected.

In total, 41,110 people in the two constituencies – or half of the 82,000 registered voters – were told to vote at incorrect polling stations.

If residents show up at the wrong location on Thursday, May 6, they will not be able to vote.

Slough-based printers Print.UK.Com has apologised for the error.

Vale council leader Tony De Vere was among those affected by the mix-up. He was told to vote in Botley — eight miles away from his home in Abingdon.

Last night Mr De Vere said: “They made an absolute mess of it and we’re really pretty mad at the company.

“We were away at the time and came home to find a card telling us to go to Botley, instead of round the corner where we usually go.

“The cards have been re-sent with a clear indication for people to check the address is correct.

“I can only apologise, but it really was not our fault.”

Managing director of Print.UK.Com Paul Foley said the company would pick up the bill for the mistake, which he blamed on a “data mapping error”.

He said: “Everything has been corrected and new cards have been issued.

“The customer is pleased with our reaction to the error.”

IT consultant Jim Alexander, 45, of Stockham Park, Wantage, was shocked when he received his card. He said: “I was told my nearest polling station was in Abingdon, about 15 miles away, which is ridiculous.

“I just thought this is another error by the council which could potentially cost tens of thousands of pounds to put right. It’s very frustrating.

“The politicians are supposed to be there for us, but all you hear about are these mistakes, and it just makes you wonder, if they can’t be bothered, why should I?”

Vale chief executive David Buckle, who is the returning officer for Wantage and Oxford West and Abingdon, stressed that voters cannot vote at incorrect polling stations.They must go to the one on the reprinted cards.