Campaign finance requirements for Wyoming ballot measures

Campaign finance requirements for Wyoming ballot measures are promulgated by the Wyoming Secretary of State Elections Division. The Secretary of State is responsible for handling all administrative and reporting functions of the state's campaign finance laws.

All violations of campaign finance law in Wyoming are reported to the Attorney General in which they have full authority to investigate and prosecute all violations.

General requirements

Candidate communication

Wyoming allows groups in support or opposition of a ballot measure to communicate on behalf of a candidate or a state/county party committee to its members.

PAC Designation

Any group in support or opposition of a ballot question is considered to be a Political Action Committee (PAC).

Statement of formation

A political committee in support or opposition of a ballot measure in Wyoming must file a Statement of Formation within ten days of beginning its work.

Campaign finance requirements

Contribution limits

Under Wyoming law, Corporations, labor unions, political action committees, along with state and local party committees can make unlimited contributions to political committees influencing ballot measures. Individual contributors are limited to $25,000 over a two year period.

Corporate/labor union contributions

Wyoming allows corporations and labor unions to donate to campaigns in support or opposition of a ballot measure. Corporations and labor unions are prohibited from donating to candidates, candidate committees, political action committees. along with state and local party committees.

Electronic reporting requirement

The Secretary State requires all campaigns beginning on January 1, 2010 to file all their campaign finance reports electronically. Prior to 2010, all campaign finance reports were distributed by the respective county clerks were the committees were located.

Reporting requirements and reports

10 day qualification report

Any Political Action Committee in support or opposition of a ballot measure must file their first campaign finance report within ten days after submitting qualification paperwork to the Secretary of State.

7 day pre-election report

All Political Action Committees must file a 7 day pre-election report. The report covers all campaign finance activity from the day after the qualification report is turned in up to the eighth day before the election. Also, the ending date of the reporting period is flexible from fourteen to eight days before the election. The report is due seven days before the election.

10 day post-election report

All Political Action Committees must file the 10 day post election report. The report covers all campaign finance activity from seven days before the election up to 10 days after the election. The report is due 10 days after the election.

Campaign advertising restrictions

Under Wyoming law, all groups in support or opposition of a ballot measure must disclose who paid for the advertisement. There are no exact requirements on how disclosures for paid advertisements are to be presented.

Also, all campaign advertising in Wyoming must be charged at the same rate other private sector businesses are charged.

All written political advertisements cannot be placed on Wyoming state property including state fairgrounds.

Terminating a committee

When all campaign debts are retired, a political committee in support or opposition of a ballot measure can file a termination statement indicating that they are ceasing operations.

External links

• Wyoming Secretary of State-Elections Division
• Wyoming Campaign Disclosure Database
• 2010 Wyoming Campaign Finance Guide
• Campaign Disclosure Project