While newly-elected municipal leaders haven’t even been sworn into office yet, it is already time to start looking ahead to the 2016 election cycle.

Municipal leaders that were elected in November to serve in Chapel Hill and Carrboro will be sworn in at ceremonies this week. Meanwhile, Tuesday marks the beginning of the filing period for the 2016 election.

With the election primary being moved up due to recent legislation from the General Assembly, the filing period for next fall’s election begins on Tuesday at noon and runs through noon on December 21.

Orange County voters will be selecting their state representatives with a seat in the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives as well as choosing four candidates to serve on the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Seats on the Orange County Board of Education are also on the slate, among other races.

State lawmakers passed legislation moving the primary election in North Carolina up to March 15, in the hopes of having more of an impact on national elections. That also moved the filing period up significantly on the local level because the primary ballot will include local, state and national races.

To this point, Penny Rich and Renee Price have announced they would run for re-election in their districts for the Board of Commissioners. Mark Marcoplos and Matt Hughes have announced their candidacy for the at-large seat on the board.

Bernadette Pelissier announced she would not be seeking re-election to the at-large seat.