The shock heard around the world

It isn't just about one nation's struggles—it's a wake-up call that democracy everywhere requires active stewardship.

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About The Concord Project

The Concord Project was founded to pilot and scale practical, non-partisan innovations that strengthen democracy.

We have experience working on technical election integrity issues in every type of political system around the world, so we’ve seen first-hand many of the ways that an election system can be manipulated, attacked, or eroded. We have always worked on a fiercely non-partisan basis, and know what it means to protect that neutrality. We left our international executive positions because of our conviction that we must contribute at home.

Our approach is practical, collaborative, and targeted--seeking to find and fill gaps where other democracy defenders may not (or cannot) be working

Concord was named for an agreement: a moment of peace between settlers and the Indigenous people who came before them. A town born of accord became, generations later, the birthplace of revolution — where the first shot for self-governance was heard around the world

In the 19th century, Concord became a cradle of philosophy and civic conscience. So “Concord” is both the place where democracy was defended with action and the place where its moral foundations were reimagined through ideas. It embodies the dual meaning of conscience and courage—the wisdom to reflect and the will to act.

Key principles

  • Rather, it takes the shape of the people it serves. Reimagining democratic institutions and processes is not a betrayal of ideals, but a pathway to their fulfillment.

  • Our focus is to strengthen the ground everyone stands on: fair rules, transparent institutions, and systems that serve the public regardless of who holds power.

  • Democracy requires constant maintenance to survive, as common ground can shift or erode. We are practitioners—turning theory into practical initiatives that serve democracy.

“Local freedom, which leads a great number of citizens to value the affection of their neighbors and of those closely known to them, perpetually brings men together, and forces them to help one another, in spite of the propensities that sever them. ”
— Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Focus Areas

Judicial Elections

State courts decide 95% of all cases in the United States, shaping the daily lives of millions. While public trust in state courts has remained steady to date, an increasing number of Americans see the courts as a political institution. Nearly 9 out of 10 state judges must stand for election at some point in their careers. What was once a quiet corner of democracy has become one of its most expensive—and explosive—battlegrounds. During the 2021–2022 midterms, judicial elections in just 17 states shattered records with $100 million in campaign spending.

State courts are now deciding some of the nation’s most pivotal issues: voting rights, redistricting, reproductive decision-making, and more. At the same time, judges themselves are under unprecedented pressure. Beyond deciding divisive cases, they face escalating harassment and threats. While steps are being taken to protect their safety, these risks are intensifying. State courts are also emerging as prime targets for cyber threats. Attacks have shut down e-filing and case management systems in states like Texas and Georgia, delaying proceedings and undermining public trust. With courts increasingly digitized—and increasingly central to high-stakes political battles—their vulnerability to cyber intrusions is a direct threat to democratic stability.

At the epicenter of this growing storm are judicial elections—where the independence of our courts, and the trust of the public, are on the line. State election laws and judicial ethics rules have failed to keep pace with modern political realities. They overlook a crucial truth: judges are not ordinary elected officials. The mechanisms by which they attain office—what they can say on the campaign trail, and how money shapes those campaigns—go to the heart of public trust in the justice system itself.

Political Finance

Political finance in the United States plays a defining role in shaping democracy—determining who runs for office, how campaigns are conducted, and how policy priorities reach the public. The system blends private contributions, public disclosure, and limited public funding, but the rising cost of elections has made candidates increasingly dependent on large donors, political action committees (PACs), and independent expenditure groups. This has fueled bipartisan concern about transparency, access, and the perception that money can distort representation and policy outcomes. Recognizing that money will always influence politics, The Concord Project advances a nonpartisan, integrity-based approach focused on accountability and transparency. Our work promotes real-time disclosure of donations and expenditures, empowering voters to see who funds campaigns before ballots are cast. We also champion integrity by safeguarding the physical security of political participants and defending information integrity in campaign finance and candidate communication.

Administrative and Alternative Dispute Resolution in Elections

Election lawsuits in the U.S. have surged more than 14% since 2020, overwhelming courts with cases that are costly, slow, and politically charged. Many are dismissed on procedural grounds—fueling claims that courts “refuse to hear evidence” and deepening mistrust in democracy. Yet every state already has a faster and more effective legal way to resolve many of these disputes: administrative election dispute resolution. Required under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), administrative systems for resolving election disputes are standard worldwide but remain underdeveloped and underused in most U.S. states.

Strengthening these systems is a missed opportunity. Effective administrative election dispute resolution can deliver timely, fact-based resolutions, educate the public, and prevent costly, polarizing court battles (while preserving the fundamental right to access the court via appeal or judicial review). We know this because we have worked with election commissions and other quasi-judicial bodies around the world on the practical mechanics of strengthening their administrative dispute resolution processes. This initiative proposes to help states modernize their processes—creating transparent, impartial, and efficient systems that reduce litigation burdens, increase public trust, and demonstrate that election systems are self-correcting and accountable.

About us

The Concord Project builds on decades of experience strengthening democracy in every region of the world. From helping Ethiopia’s judiciary deliver its first national training on election litigation, to co-designing a master’s program in election dispute resolution in Ukraine, to shaping procedures for the Bougainville independence referendum. Our role is always the same: to serve as neutral, nonpartisan partners, working alongside those who safeguard the democracies that belong to them.

As founding members of the Global Network on Electoral Justice, we’ve helped create and sustain partnerships that now connect judges, election officials, and institutions across continents. We have conducted comparative research across countries and regions and have authored guidance that now serves as a foundation for strengthening electoral integrity worldwide.

  • Founder and CEO

    Katherine Ellena is an attorney and non-profit executive with over 20 years of experience with democracy programs worldwide, working with election commissions, oversight bodies, anti-corruption commissions, tribunals, courts, and civil society in over 30 countries. Ellena has helped countries design their national election dispute resolution systems, partnered with federal judiciaries to design and deliver training on election litigation, and worked with institutions and legislators to refine elections laws and administrative rules.

    She is a former diplomat with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a special advisor to the Standing Committee on Election Law at the ABA, and a member of the Scientific Committee for the Global Network on Electoral Justice. She holds a master’s degree in law and bachelor’s degrees in law and philosophy from the University of Canterbury, and a diploma for graduates in international development from the University of London. She is admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the High Court of New Zealand.

    Ellena plays the drums, rides a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, and once had to sleep on the floor of a public toilet in a rural Indian train station.

Select Publications

  • Founder and Board Chair, General Counsel

    An attorney and global elections expert, Vickery has worked in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the United States, leading efforts to improve electoral integrity, develop impartial legal frameworks, and increase participation among historically underrepresented groups. He has led the creation of new methods for assessing the integrity of elections around the world, with a focus on identifying and addressing electoral fraud, malpractice, and effectively investigating and resolving electoral complaints. His career has focused on promoting the rule of law, professionalizing election administration, and building systems that protect the fairness and legitimacy of democratic processes.

    Vickery holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America with a specialization in comparative and international law, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Washington.

    Vickery is an avid road cyclist and mountain biker with two golden doodles who was once instructed to approach the bench during a courtesy call at a district court in Pakistan.

Information on our Advisory Board and strategic advisors coming soon!

Contact us.

The Concord Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.