San Francisco ? The California Supreme Court ruled Friday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s attempt to change the way the state’s legislative districts are drawn should be placed back on November’s special election ballot.

The ruling overturned an appellate court decision earlier this week that the initiative should remain off the ballot because of a wording dispute.

The governor’s measure, a centerpiece of his so-called “year of reform,” seeks to take away lawmakers’ power to redraw congressional and legislative districts in California. It would instead shift that responsibility to a panel of retired judges.

Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer had sued to remove it from the ballot after supporters disclosed that they had used two versions of the measure, one submitted to the attorney general for review and another shown to voters while gathering signatures to qualify for the ballot.

The state Supreme Court, however, said it wasn’t convinced the two versions had different meanings.