First Amendment Independent Expenditures
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission overturned long-standing campaign finance laws restricting corporate political expenditures, reasoning that the political speech of corporations was as important to the marketplace of ideas as the voices of individual citizens.
Prohibitions on Organization Contributions
W.S. 22-25-101(a)(iv) defines "Organization" as, "any corporation, partnership, trade union, professional association or civic, fraternal or religious group or other profit or nonprofit entity or any other entity influencing an election, except a political party, political action committee or candidate's campaign committee."
W.S. 22-25-102(a) states that no organization shall contribute funds, other items of value or election assistance directly to any candidate or group of candidates, or to any political action committee or political party which directly coordinates with a candidate or candidate's campaign committee. The Secretary of State's Election Procedures Rules, Chapter 28 define "Direct Coordination" as used in this statute.
W.S. 22-25-102(b) states that only a natural person, political party, or a political action committee or a candidate's campaign committee organized under W.S. 22-25-101 shall contribute funds or election assistance directly to any candidate or group of candidates. No person shall solicit or receive a political payment or contribution from any source other than a natural person, political party, political action committee or candidate's campaign committee organized under W.S. 22-25-101.
Exceptions
W.S. 22-25-102(k) states that organizations may still make "independent expenditures," and "electioneering communications."
- "Independent Expenditure" is defined as "an expenditure that is made without consultation or coordination with a candidate, candidate's campaign committee or the agent of a candidate or candidate's campaign committee and which expressly advocates the:
- Nomination, election or defeat of a candidate; or
- Adoption or defeat of a ballot proposition."
- "Electioneering Communication" is defined as, "any communication, including an advertisement, which is publicly distributed as a billboard, brochure, email, mailing, magazine, pamphlet or periodical, as the component of an internet website or newspaper or by the facilities of a cable television system, electronic communication network, internet streaming service, radio station, telephone or cellular system, television station or satellite system and which:
- Refers to or depicts a clearly identified candidate for nomination or election to public office or a clearly identified ballot proposition and which does not expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of the candidate or the adoption or defeat of the ballot proposition;
- Can only be reasonably interpreted as an appeal to vote for or against the candidate or ballot proposition;
- Is made within thirty (30) calendar days of a primary election, sixty (60) calendar days of a general election or twenty-one (21) calendar days of any special election during which the candidate or ballot proposition will appear on the ballot; and
- Is targeted to the electors in the geographic area:
- The candidate would represent if elected; or
- Affected by the ballot proposition."
County reporting forms can be found in the forms section of our website.
Past Reports
All filed reports by statewide organizations beginning in 2022 are available through the Wyoming Campaign Finance Information System.
2018 Election Year Cycle Reports
Pre-Primary Election Reports
Primary Election Reports
Pre-General Election Reports
General Election Reports
2016 Election Year Cycle Reports
General Election Reports
2014 Election Year Cycle Reports
Pre-Primary Election Reports
Primary Election Reports
General Election Reports
2012 Election Year Cycle Reports
Post-Primary Election Reports
