(Every two years I ask the Onondaga County Democratic Committee to honor me with their nomination to continue to serve as Elections Commissioner (D) of Onondaga County. There are nearly 500 committee members so to allow them the opportunity to see this letter and interact with me, but also for the sake of transparency I am releasing the full text of the letter here)
Dear Democratic Committee Member,
Fourteen years ago, I came before the Onondaga County Democratic Committee asking for your support to become the next Democratic Elections Commissioner of Onondaga County. Together, we have helped modernize elections, expand access to the ballot, and defend the right to vote during one of the most transformative periods in New York’s election history.It has been the honor of my professional life to serve the voters of Onondaga County.
Today, I respectfully ask for your support once again as I seek another term as your Democratic Elections Commissioner.
When I first took office, New York’s election system looked very different. Since then, our state has fundamentally reshaped how elections are conducted. Early Voting, Early Mail Voting, bilingual ballots, new recount procedures, expanded voter access, modernized technology, and the transition to even-year local elections have dramatically changed the responsibilities of every Board of Elections. Through these historic changes, my goal has remained simple: make voting easier, elections more secure, and government more responsive to every voter we serve.
The transformation of the Onondaga County Board of Elections reflects that commitment.
For years, our office has operated with fewer employees per voter than any other Board of Elections in New York State. Every budget season has required fighting for the resources necessary to administer elections fairly and efficiently. Despite those challenges, our staff has never allowed limited resources to become an excuse for limited service. Instead, we have delivered.
Together, we successfully launched Early Voting in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we ensured that every eligible voter could safely exercise their right to vote despite extraordinary public health challenges. In 2022, Onondaga County became the first jurisdiction in New York to conduct one of the state’s new close-contest hand recounts, manually recounting nearly 130,000 ballots in a race decided by only ten votes. Our procedures became the model used by election officials across the state.
We continued building on that progress by implementing countywide ballot-on-demand printing, modernizing voting equipment, introducing Early Mail Voting, printing bilingual ballots county wide, and upgrading our voter registration systems. Today, we are starting the transition to even-year local elections while continuing to improve voter services. These accomplishments belong not only to me, but to an extraordinary staff whose professionalism and dedication have made Onondaga County one of the most respected election offices in New York. I remain incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.
My work has never stopped at the borders of Onondaga County.
In 2017, my fellow Democratic commissioners elected me Democratic Caucus Chair of the New York State Elections Commissioners Association. In that role, I have worked to ensure that the lessons we learned here help improve elections across the state.
I advocated for the creation of Early Voting and later fought to expand it when counties were restricted to too few polling locations, leaving voters waiting in long lines. I worked alongside legislative leaders to secure pre-canvassing of absentee ballots and establish Early Mail Voting, protecting voters from partisan efforts to overturn legally cast ballots after the 2020 election.
I also advocated for statewide standards for local redistricting. Those reforms helped us successfully challenge partisan maps proposed here in Onondaga County and contributed to a fairer process that better reflects our communities. Today, Syracuse’s citizen-led redistricting commission stands as an example of how transparency and public participation can strengthen democracy.
Those same values have guided my work nationally.
I have been honored to represent New York through Issue One’s Faces of Democracy initiative, the Partnership for Election Infrastructure, and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Local Leadership Council. In those roles, I have met with members of Congress, advocated for increased federal election funding, supported stronger protections for election workers, opposed attacks on vote-by-mail, and promoted better training and resources for local election officials nationwide. Whether I am speaking in Washington or in Onondaga County, I carry the same message: democracy works best when every eligible voter has confidence that their ballot will count.
That work is far from finished.
Across the country, election administration has become increasingly politicized. Public confidence in our democratic institutions is under constant attack. Here in New York, we continue to hear candidates question whether they will accept election results before votes are even cast. We have also witnessed local efforts to manipulate election rules for partisan advantage. These challenges remind us that protecting democracy is not a one-time accomplishment. It is an ongoing responsibility.
If I am fortunate enough to earn another term, I will continue fighting for the resources our office needs, advocating for thoughtful election reforms, defending the independence of election administration, and ensuring that every voter in Onondaga County can participate in elections that are free, fair, secure, and accessible.
My commitment to public service also extends to the Democratic Party.
This year marks my thirtieth consecutive year as a member of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee. Before becoming Elections Commissioner, I was privileged to serve as City Chair and as Ward Chair in both the First and Seventeenth Wards. Those experiences taught me that the strength of our party comes not from any one elected official, but from the hundreds of committee members who volunteer their time to build Democratic victories from the ground up.
As our party enters its next chapter, I will continue advocating for reforms that strengthen committee members’ voices, encourage broader participation, recruit new leaders, and ensure that our organization reflects the values of Democratic voters across Onondaga County. Strong local parties build strong candidates, and strong candidates build stronger communities.
Over the coming weeks, I hope to visit every town and ward committee before our nominating meeting on October 1. I know that schedules do not always allow every committee member to attend those meetings, so I will also host a series of Zoom town halls on Sunday evenings at 7pm—August 9, August 23, September 6, and September 20. These conversations will provide an opportunity to discuss my candidacy, answer questions, and hear your thoughts about the future of elections and our party. You can register at dustinczarny.com/2026zooms or contact me directly at dustinczarny@gmail.com.
Fourteen years ago, you placed your trust in me to help lead our Board of Elections through a period of historic change. Together, we have expanded voting opportunities, modernized election administration, protected the integrity of our elections, and strengthened confidence in our democracy.
There is still important work ahead.
I would be deeply honored to earn your support once again and continue serving the voters of Onondaga County as your Democratic Elections Commissioner.
Thank you for your consideration and for everything you do on behalf of our Democratic Party.
Sincerely,
Dustin M. Czarny
Democratic Elections Commissioner
Onondaga County
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Dustin M. Czarny 