(a) The vote tabulation equipment may be located at any place within the county approved by the county election officer.

(b) Within five days prior to the date of the election, the county election officer shall have the automatic tabulating equipment tested to ascertain that the equipment will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions submitted. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given at least 48 hours prior thereto by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city where such equipment is to be used and on the county website, if the county has a website. The test shall be open to representatives of the political parties, candidates, the press and the public. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots marked to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each measure, and shall include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment to reject such votes. If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count shall be made before the automatic tabulating equipment is approved. The test shall be repeated within five business days after the completion of the canvass. The equipment, programs and ballots shall be secured and retained by the county election officer.