Campaign Finance & Election Integrity

RESEARCH

In-depth reports, policy briefs, and original analysis examining key issues facing Wyoming.

No One's "Buying" Wyoming Elections

October, 2025: The study examines every Wyoming statewide and legislative race from 2016 through 2024 to answer a question often asked but rarely tested: does money really buy elections in Wyoming? After reviewing more than 400 contested races, the findings are clear — the highest-spending candidate won fewer than half of the 2024 primary and general elections, after such candidates had achieved slightly better than 50-50 coin-flip odds across 4 election cycles.

Wyoming Voter Identificaiton Reform

July, 2020: In 2020, at least thirty-five states require some form of voter identification (“Voter ID”) before individuals may cast a vote. Although a great deal of litigation has arisen over the issue, most challenges to voter identification laws are unsuccessful. Only where states act with discriminatory intent or move to seriously burden the ability to vote will Voter ID laws be declared unconstitutional.

Anonymous Political Speech in the American Tradition

April, 2014: Anonymous political speech has been the scorn of entrenched powers and the saving balm of emerging voices throughout English and American history. In its simplest terms, anonymous speech is communication that does not identify the speaker or identifies a synonymous persona. Although for some, anonymous political speech is inherently negative, its value remains of highest constitutional import.

Opening the Political Dam: A Call to Free Speech Reform in Wyoming

January, 2011: Americans are guaranteed the freedom of speech. Even those who cannot quote the First Amendment instinctively understand that the government has no place controlling the thoughts and words of any group or individuals. But in Wyoming, the state Election Code imposes real burdens – demanding individuals register and report with the state before speaking, demanding that but miniscule amounts of money might be spent to support favored groups and candidates, demanding the surrender of constitutional rights.

Latest Campaign Finance & Election Integrity Articles

Recent research, commentary, and conversations on campaign finance, voting, and election integrity from Wyoming Liberty Group.

Loading the latest articles…

Explore election articles ↗

ARTICLES

Shorter commentary, explainers, and timely analysis on current policy debates.

Former Wyoming House Speaker Exposes the Fallacy of Campaign Finance Disclosure

March, 2024: I do not know whether Tom Lubnau, former speaker of the Wyoming House, intended to undermine all the reasons so-called reformers offer up in support of applying campaign finance disclosure to citizen advocacy in his recent piece for the Cowboy State Daily, but he deserves some credit either way. Speech can be judged on its merits and requiring disclaimers and filings with the government just to engage in the political process does not make politics any cleaner.

Wyoming Elections Committee Tees Up More Censorship by Red Tape

August, 2023: On May 30th and 31st, the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee of the Wyoming Legislature held its first interim meeting between legislative sessions in Lander. The meeting opened with an extensive presentation from various officials about how elections work in Wyoming, from registration to poll books to voting machines.

DeLay v. Texas

June, 2014: In the Fall 2002 Texas elections, a political committee (PAC) called Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) raised $190,000 from corporations. Although they could not contribute this money to candidates under Texas law, they could use this money for administrative purposes and were free to use it in federal elections or in states that allowed broader use of such funds.

Free Speech v. Federal Election Commission

December, 2013: In early 2012, three Wyomingites came together to form an unincorporated nonprofit association called Free Speech. Tired of numerous policies coming out of the White House–relating to health care, land rights, free speech, gun rights, and other issues–Free Speech meant to serve as a way for these residents and likeminded people to speak out about issues here in Wyoming.

McComish v. Bennett

January, 2011: Under Arizona’s Clean Elections Act, when one runs for public office against a publicly funded candidate and does not accept public financing, expenditures they make (or that others make in their support) above a certain threshold trigger dollar-per-dollar matching in the campaign. Wyoming Liberty Group filed this amicus brief in support of striking down this provision on First Amendment grounds.

Independence Institute v. Buescher

October, 2009: This brief—which was joined by the Cato Institute, Center for Competitive Politics, Sam Adams Alliance, Montana Policy Institute and Goldwater Institute—called for the Supreme Court to examine campaign finance disclosure requirements for political communications relating to ballot measures.