Grading State Disclosure 2005 Logo Graphic

W y o m i n g

Grade
Rank
F
50

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Subcategories
Grade
Rank
Campaign Disclosure Law
F
47
Electronic Filing Program
F
41
Disclosure Content Accessibility
F
50
Online Contextual & Technical Usability
F
45

Grading Process green cube Subcategory Weighting green cube Methodology green cube Glossary

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The State of Disclosure in Wyoming

Wyoming has earned an F and the lowest overall ranking again in 2007, ranking in the bottom ten in each area of the assessment.

Wyoming law requires candidates to disclose the name and address of contributors giving over $25, but occupation, employer and a donor’s cumulative contributions are not reported. Last-minute contributions are not reported until after Election Day. Campaign expenditures are not reported until after an election, and do not include subvendor details. Independent expenditure disclosure is not required, and the law’s enforcement provisions are also lacking. Electronic filing is still not an option for candidates in Wyoming, though legislation has been drafted for review in the 2008 legislative session that would mandate electronic filing for all candidates starting in 2010.

As one of just two states that do not currently post campaign disclosure data online, Wyoming received an F and ranks last in the Disclosure Content Accessibility category. Access to campaign finance records in Wyoming is limited to requesting paper copies of reports (at $.15 per page) or traveling to the Secretary of State’s office to browse the records. The electronic filing legislation, if enacted, could be an important step toward greater access to disclosure records because it would also require the Secretary of State’s office to maintain an online, searchable database of electronically-filed reports.

Despite not posting any campaign finance data online, Wyoming tied for 45th and ranked higher in the Online Contextual and Technical Usability category than three states that do provide online access to data. The Secretary of State’s web site is easy to navigate and offers good contextual information regarding campaign finance rules and disclosure requirements. The public is also able to view complete, detailed lists of candidates that include the name, office sought, party affiliation as well as candidates’ contact and web site information.

Quick Fix: Post some campaign finance data on the Internet, such as summary totals of amounts raised and spent by gubernatorial or other high-profile candidates.

♦ Editor’s Pick: The Secretary of State’s web site features detailed lists of candidates going back to 1998. View image

Disclosure Agency: Secretary of State
Disclosure Web Site:
http://soswy.state.wy.us

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First published October 16, 2007
| Last updated October 17, 2007
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Campaign Disclosure Project. All rights reserved.