Meet Elena…
Elena is the Director of State Operations & Ballot Measure Strategies for Common Cause. Elena provides direct support to states on campaigns, fundraising, policy, and program development.
As Executive Director in Colorado, Elena won reforms to promote voting rights, expand access to open records, and increase campaign finance transparency. Elena led Colorado Common Cause’s efforts to modernize elections with the adoption of the Colorado Voter Access & Modernized Elections Act, which established same day voter registration, modernized list maintenance processes, and created more convenient options for voting. She was appointed by then-Governor John Hickenlooper to the commission charged with overseeing the law’s implementation and served as co-chair of the commission.
In addition to her work lobbying and building coalitions on government reform issues, Elena has significant experience working on ballot measures, including managing successful statewide campaigns for campaign finance and ethics reform. Elena serves on the board of directors for the BISC Foundation and on the Circle of Advisors for the National Vote at Home Institute. Originally from Arizona, Elena graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science and Gender Studies.