A senate panel voted Wednesday to throw some additional hurdles in the path of Arizonans who want to write their own laws.

Screening the film adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” isn’t exactly the most festive way to celebrate one’s upcoming birthday, but after reading the Tribune’s “Nerdvana” column’s recommending it this coming Friday, I couldn’t help but reserve a seat.

Lottery confidentiality

WASHINGTON – When the U.S. Supreme Court hears an Alabama challenge to a federal voting-rights law Wednesday, Arizona officials and civil rights activists will be keeping a close eye on the case.

Efforts by Arizona Republican lawmakers to overhaul the early voting process and fight election fraud have drawn criticism from Democrats and civic groups who fear the proposed changes would limit turnout among the state's growing Hispanic electorate.

House Speaker Andy Tobin is sidelining two anti-union measures rather than bringing them to the floor for a divisive -- and potentially losing -- vote.

WASHINGTON — Uncompromising and politically emboldened, President Barack Obama urged a deeply divided Congress Tuesday night to embrace his plans to use government money to create jobs and strengthen the nation's middle class. He declared Republican ideas for reducing the deficit "even worse" than the unpalatable deals Washington had to stomach during his first term.

The future of voting is online, and moving Arizona’s elections to the Internet would save money, deter voter fraud and increase efficiency, a state lawmaker says.

The new chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission signaled Monday that the days of pushing solar and renewable energy over other sources are over.

Ours is a diverse nation whose people have countless choices to make.

Arizona voters may be able to cast their ballots in 2014 at any polling place anywhere in the county.

For documentarian Ken Burns, the Dust Bowl should be more than just a tragic piece of American history.

Thanksgiving and national elections are held during the same month in this country, a coincidence that we should all especially take note of this year.

As I write this, residents of the Mid-Atlantic states are being warned to prepare themselves for a long-lasting power outage because of Hurricane Sandy, billed as “the perfect storm” and the storm of the century. When Hurricane Irene roared through New England last year, many residents were still without power after a week. And Hurricane Irene was a relatively weak Category 1 hurricane.

The nation's largest online retailer is going to start collecting sales tax on items ordered by its Arizona customers.

The Maricopa County Elections Department plans to spend about $30,000 for television and print ads to correct possible misperceptions among some Spanish-language voters about the date for the Nov. 6 general election.

“The snowbirds are returning and so are the unkind, immature, and unrealistic comments by some East Valley residents. Age happens. Just look around at your grandparents.”

Election Day holds tremendous importance in our country, not just as the day when we vote our leaders into office, but as the symbolic cornerstone of our democracy. It is a day when all our voices are heard. No matter what you look like, how much money you make, your family’s background, or how old you are, we all have an equal say on Election Day. The openness and fairness of our voting process is what makes America the leading democracy in the world.

A new report shows a sharp increase in the number of Arizona women having abortions last year.

Arizona, already at odds with the federal government and civil-rights groups over immigration, is adding voter ID and the Voting Rights Act to the disputes.

Early ballots went into the mail last week for this month’s Arizona primary election. Some of you may have already received them.

CHICAGO (AP) — Gone are the days when young voters weren't taken seriously. In 2008, they helped propel Barack Obama into the Oval Office, supporting him by a 2-1 margin.

More than 750,000 Maricopa County voters will get early ballots in the mail as soon as Thursday, when voting begins for the Aug. 28 primary elections.

Secretary of State Ken Bennett was wrong in refusing to process initiative petitions seeking to permanently extend the state's one-cent sales tax, a judge ruled Wednesday.