WASHINGTON — Fairfax County Public Schools will be opening two hours late on March 1, 2016 because of the big turnout expected for the year’s presidential primaries.

The school board approved the late request from the Board of Elections Thursday night.

More than 80 percent of school buildings are used as polling places in Fairfax County. The hope is that a later opening will help kids arriving to school avoid the morning rush of voters.

The change means Fairfax County Public Schools now only have 12.7 snow days built into this year’s school calendar.

Virginia has a separate general election on Nov. 3 for local school boards, supervisors, some mayors and all the seats in the General Assembly.