The Cleveland County Election Board has begun moving out of its downtown Norman offices and should open at its new digs, 614 E. Robinson St., by Nov. 10, a CCEB spokeswoman said Monday.

Anette Pretty, assistant executive secretary of CCEB, said the board has been at its current location, 122 S. Peters Ave., since 2004.

Pretty said this move shouldn't be an issue for the CCEB staff, whose next election (on two proposed Norman school bonds) falls on Dec. 8.

"We're seamless," Pretty said. "We'll be fine."

Right now, the CCEB is sharing the building with Chase Bank and the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department.

Who exactly will fill the prime downtown office space the CCEB is vacating is still up in the air.

County Commissioner Rod Cleveland, District 1, said commissioners have discussed leasing the office space to a private business.

"With the Vista Building outcome not known at this point, downtown office space is still pretty slim right now," Cleveland said. "We're going to see what kind of interest is out there."

Cleveland said the CCEB is moving into a space that used to house the county health department and was used by county offices during the courthouse remodel. He said the CCEB's current office space also used to be occupied by the health department.

Those who use the CCEB on a regular basis don't seem to mind the move. At least not Bobby Cleveland, chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party.

"We do quite a few transactions with them but it's pretty much no different for me," he said. "Pretty much like five minutes of extra driving."

Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com