Lucknow, Dec 18 (IANS): 'Zila panchayat' chiefs in Uttar Pradesh will be elected on January 7, 2016, a state election commission official said on Friday.

Voting in 74 districts, barring Noida, will be held till 3 p.m. after which counting will begin and conclude on the same day, the official told IANS.

The SEC has also banned the transfer of district magistrates and police chiefs. Since it is an 'indirect election', the notification would not bar welfare schemes and other projects of the state government.

According to the official, nominations for the 'zila Panchayat' polls would be done on January 1 and the scrutiny would take place on January 4.

While a provisional list of voters has been published and released, votes would be valid only with photo-ID cards.

Total 3112 members of the district panchayats would elect their respective Zila Panchayat chairman.

The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) has already announced its candidates for the post in the high-stake elections.