Calif. Voters Face Redrawn Ballots, New Districts

SACRAMENTO (AP) — California voters will confront a longer ballot Tuesday when they vote in the first statewide election since they approved major political reforms intended to produce more moderate candidates.

Legislative and congressional districts have been redrawn by an independent citizens commission, and a new primary system means the top two winners will advance to the general election, regardless of their party.

Tuesday's election will test the assumption that those changes will produce more moderates.

Democrats hope to add as many as six new members of Congress and get a supermajority in the state Senate.

Voters are also deciding on two ballot initiatives. One would add a $1 per pack tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research and another would alter legislative term limits.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein faces no big-name challenger.

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