The Vallejo Times-Herald

By RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN, Times-Herald staff writer

More than a dozen citizens staged a mock funeral for American democracy near the Vallejo Ferry terminal Wednesday evening.

Organized and led by Douglas McDonald, 34, founder of the Community-Labor Alliance, the protest focused on the new Diebold Election Systems Inc. voting machines Solano County will use in the March election if the necessary software is certified in time.

McDonald calls his association "a grass roots organization supporting working class interests in Solano and Contra Costa counties."

The protesters are not alone in their concerns about the machines. Some members of the Solano County Board of Supervisors, which made the deal with Diebold, are also uneasy.

"The majority of the board seems to be concerned from the comments made by members at our last meeting," said Supervisor Barbara Kondylis. "The touch-screen system is easier, but it's about what goes on inside the machine once you touch the machine that's in question."

Kondylis called the protesters' worries "valid."