BOSTON (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the winner-take-all system Massachusetts uses to assign its Electoral College presidential votes.

Chief U.S. District Judge Patti Saris said in her decision on Friday that there may be "valid policy arguments" on the practice of assigning all of a state's Electoral College votes to the winner of a state's popular vote, but that it does not violate the Constitution.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Republicans and William Weld, a former Massachusetts Republican governor and Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate.

The group behind the case filed similar ones in California, Texas and South Carolina.

Critics argue the system used by 48 states violates the principle of "one person, one vote" and causes candidates to focus on just a few key battleground states.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.