Kathmandu, May 9 The locals in north eastern parts of Kathmandu have expressed ignorance about the voting process although the local level elections are just around the corner. So far no voter education programme has been launched at settlements that lack access to road network in Gokarneshwor, Kageshwori Manohara, and Shankharapur municipalities. Moreover, no candidate running for the elections has visited the settlements seeking vote or for any other election related activity. Locals said the last time they had exercised their franchise was during the first and second Constituent Assembly elections. “As local level polls are taking place after 19 years, we have no idea how to cast our vote,” they said. Mangal Bahadur Tamang of Mulkharka, Gokarneshwar Municipality, said they didn’t know how to cast their vote. He also expressed ignorance about candidates contesting the elections. According to locals, voter education programmes were conducted during the first and the second Constituent Assembly elections. Locals of Manohara, Gagalphedi, Kageshwari, Shankharapur, Bajrayogini, Chaukibhanjyang and Patap, among other places, demanded that the government conduct voter education programmes in their areas. Similarly, locals in Mulpani, Gokarna, said they were waiting for government officials to visit their places and educate them about the voting process. According to Bishnu Prasad Sapkota, a local of Dakshindhoka, the ratio of invalid votes may increase this time as most of the voters were not aware about the voting process.