Forty one percent votes have been cast as of 2pm, the Election Commission said in an update on Friday afternoon, as voting is underway across the country to elect new local governments.

Issuing a press statement on Friday, the Election Commission said except for a few incidents, voting is underway smoothly across the country.

“The voter turnout has reached 41 percent by 2pm,” reads the statement.

A total of 17,733,723 adults have enrolled themselves to vote in the local elections.

The commission said voting has been postponed in Maharajgunj Municipality in Kapilvastu district and Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City Ward 17, Dang because of the deaths of the candidates.

A deputy mayoral candidate in Maharajgunj and a candidate for the ward chair from Ward 17 in Tulsipur died a few days back. The people from the two places will vote on Tuesday.