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PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett is proposing a wholesale overhaul of the state's vote-counting system in the wake of embarrassing delays counting more than a half-million ballots in Nov. 6 general election.

Bennett says Arizona would have been the focus of nationwide derision if the presidential election had been in the balance.

Bennett tells The Associated Press that by 2014 he wants the vast majority of all votes counted within hours of poll closings.

He hopes to count early ballots dropped off at polling places on the spot and cut the number of provisional ballots issued by 90 percent.

He hopes to approach counties and the Legislature to help pay for the overhaul.