Legal challenge on electoral change

Democrats say initiative violates U.S. Constitution and vow a suit to fight it. By Kevin Yamamura - kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, November 2, 2007

California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres vowed Thursday to challenge a proposed initiative to change how the state's electoral votes are counted if it qualifies for the ballot.

Torres insisted the initiative would be illegal because the U.S. Constitution gives state legislatures the power to determine their presidential electors. The proposal being circulated by Republican consultants would assign California's electors on a district-by-district basis rather than award the statewide winner all 55 electoral votes.