Citizens in Charge

A federal district court ruled has ruled that Wisconsin’s campaign finance reporting requirements are overly restrictive on First Amendment rights in a case arising from a referendum campaign. According to Wisconsin’s election law, two Whitewater citizens who sought to distribute flyers and yard signsagainst a local referendum would have had to register with the state and comply with a host of other reporting regulations. The citizens brought suit and won, striking down the restrictions. “The court recognized the Wisconsin laws as classic examples of overreaching campaign finance laws,” says James Bopp, Jr., lead counsel for the plaintiffs. “Government is not free to regulate every citizen who wants to send post cards or put up yard signs concerning a referendum—such activities are at the core of the First Amendment.”