Sedgwick County commissioners have approved the purchase of a building in northeast Wichita for a new location for the Election Office.

The county is planning to buy the Waltons, Inc building at 3639 North Comotara at a price tag of $4.5 million.   The building has a brick building for offices and three metal buildings for warehouse use with four loading docks.   It is about a 16-minute drive from downtown Wichita.

County director of facilities Andrew Dilts said the county has been looking for a new space for the Election Office since 2018, and staff looked at 16 buildings but none of them met the requirements that were needed.  Dilts said there is a city bus stop near 37th Street North and Rock Road, but the City of Wichita has said it will add a bus stop in front of the new location during election periods.   He said the new location is well-maintained and has security cameras in place.

Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater told the commission that there will still be a satellite location downtown for voting, and she also wants to provide a satellite location in west Wichita.  She said the new building is away from downtown Wichita but most voters only go to the Election Office once or twice a year, and the new location will still be accessible.   Rainwater said if the sale is closed in June, the plan is to deploy voting equipment from the current warehouse for the August, 2026 primary election, and then store it in the new location.   The Election Office plans to move its offices to the new location in the summer of 2025.

Commissioners voted to approve the purchase 4-1.  Commissioner Jim Howell voted no, voicing concerns over the location and questioning whether it has the right mix of office and warehouse space.