Rowan County residents haven’t yet voted in municipal elections and are already nearing the start of 2016’s local elections.

During the 2015 legislative session, the N.C. General Assembly passed a bill moving all 2016 primaries to March 15, 2016. Moving primaries up was seen as a way to make North Carolina more relevant in the 2016 presidential race. The Bill only applies to the 2016 primary races.

During the March elections, voters will vote in races from U.S. president to county coroner

The earliest deadline applies to candidates. Because of the bill, any candidate who wishes to file for elected office after switching party affiliation will have to wait an extended period of time to do so. This Wednesday is the latest a candidate could switch his or her party affiliation in time to register for the 2016 primaries.

Board of Elections Director Nancy Evans said the deadline may apply to candidates who are registered to vote as an unaffiliated, but seek to run as a Republican or Democrat.

Candidates who make a party switch by Wednesday would be eligible to register on Dec. 21 at the earliest, according to information sent to local boards of elections.

The official filing period for primary elections starts Dec. 1.

Filing begins only three weeks after the Rowan County Board of elections is scheduled to canvass, or finalize, the municipal elections’ vote.