Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra on Sunday said panchayat elections in the state will be held in nine phases between November 17 and December 11, reported The Indian Express.

The elections are scheduled for November 17, 20, 24, 27 and 29, and December 1, 4, 8 and 11. Votes will be cast using ballot paper from 8 am to 3 pm. The counting process will also take place on the same day, Kabra said.

Kabra said the notifications for each phase of the elections will be issued on October 23, 26, 29, and November 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 14, reported Greater Kashmir.

On Saturday, Kabra announced that elections to the municipal bodies will be held in four phases on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. The state is set to hold its first local body elections since 2011.

Both the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party have announced their decision to not contest the polls. While Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP urged the central government to reconsider conducting them, the National Conference said it would boycott elections until the central government clarifies its position on Article 35A of the Constitution.

Jammu and Kashmir has been under Governor’s Rule since June.