Streets near Sedgwick County Election Office will close Election Night. Here’s where & why

Three streets near the Sedgwick County Election Office will be closed for part of election night, Nov. 5.

This is the first time in recent years that streets surrounding the office have been closed, especially for security purposes.

Those street closures:

• Market Street from Central Avenue to Pine Street

• Main Street from Pine Street to Central Avenue

• Elm Street from Broadway Street through Main Street

The street closures will last from 7 to 9 p.m.

The closures are to allow election workers to drop off marked ballots and other election equipment securely that evening.

“It is 100% for the secure transfer of election day ballots and media sticks from the vote tabulators at polling sites,” County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater said in an email.

After voting sites close on Election Day, supervising judges at each location hand deliver sealed ballots and “media sticks” from electronic voting machines to the election office.

A release from the county said only election workers and “authorized helpers” will be allowed in the area near the Historic Courthouse where the election office is located.