Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett holds an office normally associated with dry-as-dust election matters. But Bennett's handling of some of those matters produced notable political dustups for the former legislative leader who may run for governor in 2014.

A panel of legislators approved language for 11 ballot measures, including the proposals to raise sales taxes by 1 cent, after a contentious three-hour hearing on Monday.
But already, there are hints some of the panel’s decisions might end up getting challenged in court.

A mistake in the ballot language for the Quality Education and Jobs initiative could keep the proposed one-cent sales tax increase off of November’s ballot.

Secretary of State Ken Bennett, who helped pioneer the state’s online signature-gathering system for political candidates, has started using the system for his potential gubernatorial race two years away.

Southern Arizona Democrats’ hopes to have former Rep. Daniel Patterson replaced by one of their own were dashed today when the Secretary of State said the legislative seat will be filled by an independent.

Arizona is preparing to launch a new signature-gathering system that will fundamentally change the way political candidates go about qualifying for the 2012 ballot.

Beginning Feb. 1, voters will be able go online to sign nominating petitions for candidates who want to run for statewide office and the Legislature.

State elections officials have asked the Attorney General’s Office to investigate an unknown group after it sent out a campaign mailer they believe is deceptive.

The Americans Elect Party doesn’t have a platform or philosophy, but it will be an officially recognized party on Arizona ballots in 2012.

Bennett may be widely viewed as a rural guy, but his prospective gubernatorial campaign is more likely to be steered from Gilbert than Prescott. In order to comply with the state Constitution after he was appointed secretary of state in 2009, Bennett officially became a resident of Maricopa County.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne says people considering how to help with the earthquake relief effort in Japan should be wary of scam artists soliciting donations.