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.

Polling on Arizona’s statewide races has consistently shown GOP candidates on top, and Republicans are optimistic that the anti-Democratic mood sweeping the state and the country will give them total control of state government.

Only a couple of relatively competitive races stand between Republicans and their first sweep of Arizona’s six statewide offices since 1994, not including the Corporation Commission.

Voters will consider up to 10 ballot measures in November, including the constitutional protection for hunting and fishing, elimination of affirmative action and decriminalization of medical marijuana.

Arizona's elections chief says the state needs to overhaul a portion of its campaign finance laws to maintain an informed electorate after the nation's top court gave corporations the ability to pay for political advertisements.