County Election Board moving to new site
Mar. 12—The Pittsburg County Election Board is moving to its new location this week at 7 E. Chickasaw Ave. in McAlester.
That address is expected to be the County Election Board's new location for at least six months to a year — and perhaps even longer.
County Election Board workers began moving some lighter items on Monday, March 11, from the election board's current location on the second floor of the Southeast Expo Center.
Professional movers were set to arrive at the Expo Center on Wednesday and Thursday to assist with the move to the 7 E. Chickasaw Ave. address.
It's west of the First National Bank & Trust's downtown drive-in site and the corner of Second Street and Chickasaw Avenue.
The new County Election Board site is between Second Street and South Main Street on Chickasaw Avenue, a block south of Choctaw Avenue in downtown McAlester.
Pittsburg County Election Board Secretary Tonya Barnes said she's glad the Election Board offices will be back in the downtown McAlester area.
"I appreciate the officials getting this building for us," she said, referring to the Pittsburg County commissioners renting the site.
Barnes hopes to have the move from the Expo Center to the new location at 7 E. Chickasaw Ave.. complete by next Monday, March 18, if not sooner. She noted there is equipment, records, furniture and other items that will have to be moved from the Expo Center to the new site this week.
In the meantime, Barnes plans to have election board workers at both the new location on Chickasaw Avenue and at the Southeast Expo Center this week to help ensure there is public access to the election board while the move is in progress.
She suggested anyone needing to see election workers in-person this week while the move is underway to first call 918 423-3877.
"We ask that everyone please be patient with us as we make this transition to the new office building," Barnes said.
Pittsburg County commissioners temporarily moved the County Election Board offices to the Southeast Expo Center in 2023, after the County Election Board office floor had continually flooded at its previous address inside the Pittsburg County Courthouse Annex repeatedly flooded, causing damage too the floor, wells and other parts of the office.
Commissioners had originally looked at either repairing and upgrading the Election Board office at the Courthouse Annex, or else constructing an entirely new building. However, they have backed off both options after initial cost estimates came in much higher than they expected.
That's why commissioners said they settled on renting the building at 7 E. Chickasaw Ave. from the First National Bank & Trust in McAlester,
Anyone questions or concerns can contact the Pittsburg County Election Board by phone at 918-423-3877 or online at pittsburgcounty@elections.ok.gov.
Office hours are at the Pittsburg County Election Board's new address at 7 E. Chickasaw Ave. will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, once the election workers get moved into the building.
