Prop 66 leading, Prop 62 trailing

Californians are leaning toward reforming the state’s broken death penalty rather than getting rid of it.

Early returns Tuesday favored Proposition 66, an effort to speed up appeals so condemned murders are put to death rather than replacing capital punishment with life in prison without chance of parole.

About 51 percent of more than 3 million votes were in favor of reform. Only about 46 percent supported Proposition 62, the effort to repeal the death penalty.

Proponents of both measures agreed the current system has failed. More than 900 convicted murderers have been sent to death row since 1978 but only 13 have been executed in the state.

Repeal supporters say their measure would save $150 million and eliminate the chance of someone innocent being executed.

Reform proponents say the worst killers would die and family members of victims would get justice.