OCDC Reorganizational meeting 9/18/2024

I was nominated for my another term as Onondaga County Elections Commissioner (D) on 9/18/24. Above is my remarks accepting the nomination. Below is my letter to OCDC committee members asking for their support for another two years.

Dear Onondaga County Democrats,

In 2012 the Onondaga County Democratic Committee gave me one of the honors of my life when you nominated me for Onondaga County Democratic Commissioner.  It has been both one of the hardest and most fulfilling jobs of my life.  The honor to serve voters, candidates, lawmakers, and advocates has been a dream come true.  Thus, I ask you for your support for another term to continue this important work and serve as your Democratic Elections Commissioner of Onondaga County.

When I took this position, I promised I would use it to increase voter access and better the experiences of voters.  Along with the hard-working staff of the Onondaga County Board of Elections, the last 12 years have seen a revolution in voting in New York.  We instituted and expanded Early Voting.  We protected mail in voting from partisan challenges while expanding it as an option to all voters.  We improved technology at our polling sites which has reduced wait times and counted the votes more accurately.  We have expanded our website (onvote.net) to allow for online voter registration, absentee ballot requests, & check your polling place.  We have also worked hard to add statistical information going beck 15 to 30 years (depending on data availability) and election results going back to 1945.

In 2017 I was named the Democratic Caucus Chair of the NYS Elections Commissioner Association and remain in that role to this day.  As Caucus Leader I have had the opportunity to testify in Albany and meet with legislative leaders. I am proud that New York has earmarked millions of dollars for local county boards of the election each year since 2019.  I have also worked with legislative leaders on legislation to better our electoral system.

In 2023 I was able to expand my horizons and joined three distinct national groups.  I joined the Faces of Democracy with Issue One, a bi partisan group of election officials dedicated to protecting the sanctity of the vote.  I was one of the founding members of the Local Leadership council for the Elections Assistance Commission. This permanent federal government agency has bi partisan representation from each state to assist in federal election legislation and resources and I am one of the two New York representatives.  I also have joined the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions representing Onondaga County in a group dedicated to the needs of large election offices.

In my next term I hope to continue to advocate for proper resources for our Board of Elections.  The Onondaga County Board of Elections has one full time employee for every 14k voters.  That is nearly double the average throughout the rest of New York State.  I am also an advocate to move our Eelection Day polling sites to become vote centers like our Early Voting sites.  This would allow voters to visit any site on Election Day like they can on Early Voting. Both goals have legislation that has been passed by the NY Senate but not the Assembly and I will continue lobbying for their eventual passage and signing into law by the Governor.

Thank you again for all you do to help voters and elect Democrats throughout Onondaga County,

Sincerely,

Dustin Czarny

Commissioner (D)

Onondaga County Board of Elections

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