More than 5,000 people who were not previously on the register have added their names in the past six weeks. There has also been a massive surge in the number of people applying for postal votes for the 6 May election. Experts today said the figures suggested an unexpected interest in the election. Lothian's electoral registration office recorded a net increase of 5,200 names on the register in the run-up to 20 April, the deadline for taking part in the general election. Brian Brown, depute electoral registration officer, said: "For that number to register there must be something that has caught their imagination." Mr Brown also revealed a dramatic rise in the number of postal vote applications in Edinburgh and the Lothians – more than 80 per cent up since the last general election. More than 91,000 voters will have a postal vote for this election, compared with 50,655 in 2005.