Even An Earthquake Doesn't Rattle Bull Run Precinct

Update: Bull Run Elementary School is closed Wednesday. 

Talk about rocking the vote: when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Centreville this afternoon, election officials at School didn't bat an eye after they found out the building might be damaged. They simply scooped up the voting machines and paper ballots, and carried them outside, cords dangling.

Voters apparently weren't phased by the earthquake and continued to cast their ballots outside throughout the afternoon, officials said.  

"It's almost as if we were inside," John Kuchenbrod, the chief election officer said, as he and three other officials stood outside the elementary school on a comfortably warm, sunny afternoon. "In fact, there is no difference when the ballots are counted."

Fairfax County kept all polling places open until 7 p.m. Tuesday despite an unusual 5.9 earthquake that hit the area this afternoon and has area residents shaken. Still, despite the brief interruption and the traditionally low turnout for a one-party primary election, Bull Run maintained one of the highest percentages in the county—about six percent, as of around 6 p.m. There were also some unconfirmed reports of structural damage at the Centreville precinct. 

The precinct was among the polling places that were moved voting outdoors this afternoon while experts checked the buildings for any structural damage and to be sure no one is in danger of loose building materials falling. Officials were concerned that there might be some damage on the second floor. 

Fairfax County Registrar Edgardo Cortes said he was in the middle of evaluating turnout for today's election when the quake hit. "We'll probably be in the single digits," he said. Typical turnout is somewhere between 10-15 percent, he said. Many were already predicting a low turnout day for primary voting in Northern Virginia due to redistricting moving the date to late August when many are on vacation.

"It's been an interesting afternoon," Cortes said from his office at the Fairfax County Government Center. "I think the biggest impact is that the results may be delayed somewhat" due to spotty cell phone service.

This article has been revised and updated.