LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters is planning to begin counting absentee ballots this week and also will hold an equipment test that will be open to the public.

Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley said her office will begin processing vote by mail ballots for the Nov. 2 General Election, on Monday, Oct. 18, at 8 a.m.

The processing of the vote by mail voter ballots will continue through Election Day as well as during the official canvass, she said.

The counting of the official ballots will commence on Tuesday, Nov. 2, in the Registrar of Voters Office, Room 209 in the Lake County Courthouse at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport. However, Fridley said results will not be announced until after the close of the polls at 8 p.m.

The official canvass will commence on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 9 a.m. and will continue daily – excluding weekends and holidays – until completed, Fridley reported.

Observers are invited to view the processing and counting of the ballots, but Fridley said they shall not interfere with the election process.

The test of the tabulation computer and software equipment to be used in the Nov. 2 general election will take place at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, Fridley said.

Fridley said the logic and accuracy test is required by regulations set forth by the California State Commission on Voting Machines and Vote Tabulating Devices.

Fridley said all interested persons are invited to observe the test.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .