Featured

Welcome to dustinczarny.com

I want to take a moment to welcome you to my website. This is my new home for my various election related projects that I have started over the last few years. As Onondaga County’s Democratic Elections Commissioner I am always looking for ways to further educate voters and navigate them through the arcane web of New York’s electoral system.

On my podcast page you can find my ongoing Commissioner in a Car series. A weekly Facebook live show dedicated to election news and deadlines. I also started a weekly interview series for candidates and Democracy advocates called Zoom with Czarny.

This will also serve as a home for my writings. On occasion I am blessed to testify in my role as Democratic Caucus Chair of the NYS Elections Commissioner Association. I have appeared in front of the NYS Legislature, Onondaga County Legislature, and Syracuse Common Council. I have collected my previous testimony here with video links when available.

I also have a weekly statistics blog called Wonky Wednesday. This column is dedicated to examining the election statistics and registration data in Onondaga County and throughout New York State. I also will from time to time author editorials and opinion articles on election related topics. You can find those writings on my editorial page.

On occasion I appear on feature podcasts and tv shows. These longer programs offer me the ability to discuss complicated election issues on my featured page. Finally I regularly appear in local and statewide media on election related matters. I am compiling all current and past appearances on my interview page.

This website and all programming is entirely paid for by my personal funds. I do not accept donations or advertising. This is all part of my voter education and outreach efforts. If you are interested you can subscribe to my website and get updates when I post content. Thank you for visiting.

Commissioner in a Car: NYSECA Summer Conference Wrap Up

This week I was at the Summer NYS Elections Commissioner Association conference. I talk about what we did there and how these associations form. I also talk about the election of officers including my own re-election as Caucus Chair, which is different than my election this fall as elections Commissioner. Enjoy.

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news updates

Commissioner in a Car: The Deal to Place Term Limits On the Ballot in 2026.

In this week’s episode I talk about the deal to put term limits for County Executive and County Comptroller on the ballot. I explain what is in the deal, why there are two propositions (12 and 16 year terms), why it had to go to court to get this deal, and why I decided to settle the court case and agree to this compromise. Enjoy.

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content updates and election news

Agreement reached in Onondaga Co. election commissioners’ term-limit dispute – Spectrum news

“I felt that’s the best resolution that we could come up with in this short window,” said Democratic commissioner Dustin Czarny.

This means the lawsuit Czarny filed against Republican commissioner Kevin Ryan about McMahon’s self-described “clerical error” is now settled. 

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2026/08/21/onondaga-county-lawsuit-term-limits-agreement-reached

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news updates

Onondaga County Executive, Legislature agree to deal to end term limit dispute – Newschannel 9

“Today is a good day for Democracy and the voters of Onondaga County,” Czarny told NewsChannel 9 | LocalSYR.com. “I am happy to have played a small role in bringing about this outcome. “

https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/term-limit-court-deal

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news updates

Statement on today’s resolution on Term Limits for the County Executive and County Comptroller to be placed on the 2026 ballot.

Today I am pleased to report that all parties have agreed to a deal that will let voters decide on term limits for the County Executive and County Comptroller. Most importantly voters will get a choice on the ballot this year.  I am proud of the leadership of Nicole Watts and the County Legislature for standing up for the will of the voters to be heard.  Resolving this lawsuit now is not without compromise.  The voters will have a choice of either 12 or 16 years.  However, the involvement of the Court and Judge Lamendola’s common sense court order and stipulation will remove any questions of legality and ensure the will of the voters is enacted, whatever they choose.  We also have stipulations in the agreement in case any party breaches the agreement or a future conflict comes before the Board of Elections.

Today is a good day for Democracy and the voters of Onondaga County.  I am happy to have played a small role in bringing about this outcome.

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content updates and election news

Onondaga County officials come to term limits agreements, sidestep “democracy question” – Central Current

“The judge’s order and stipulation is what makes this all possible,” said Dustin Czarny, who sued his fellow elections commissioner, Kevin Ryan, after Ryan refused to put the referendum on the ballot. The county could not have decided to waive deadlines or choose which of two passed referendums became law without the judge allowing it. “That’s why it was important to go to court.”

Onondaga County officials come to term limits agreements, sidestep “democracy question”

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news

Seven votes separate Dem Primary candidates for Onondaga Co. 16th Legislative District – CNY Central

On Wednesday, Onondaga County Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said Nyatwa Bullock has just a seven-point lead over her opponent, Charlene Tarver. The hand count was finalized on Tuesday,

However, Czarny said the Board of Elections still needs to certify the results. He said that is likely to happen on Aug. 20.

https://cnycentral.com/news/local/seven-votes-separate-dem-primary-candidates-for-onondaga-co-16th-legislative-district

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news

Onondaga County Legislature to consider resolution about keeping ICE away from election polling sites – Central Current

“We could not have dreamed of this scenario before it happened,” said Czarny, referring to ICE at the primaries, “and we don’t know what the next scenarios are going to be.” Czarny said that the number one question in elections inspector classes was related to the presence of ICE at the polls.

Onondaga County Legislature to consider resolution about keeping ICE away from election polling sites

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news updates

Onondaga County Legislature Public Safety Committee August 18, 2026

I was honored to testify today at the Onondaga County Legislature on behalf of Legislator Block’s resolution to keep ICE and other law enforcement away from polling places today starting at the 41:30 minute mark. Enjoy.

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content updates and election news

One Onondaga County election case ends as term limits fight continues – CNY Central

Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said a judge dismissed Tarver’s petition Friday, clearing the way for the board to canvass 14 remaining cure ballots….The end of that case comes as the Board of Elections remains involved in a separate court fight over whether voters will get to decide county term limits this fall.

Czarny sued Republican Elections Commissioner Kevin Ryan after the two disagreed over whether a 12-year term-limits proposal for the County Executive and Comptroller should be placed on the ballot.

https://cnycentral.com/news/local/one-onondaga-county-election-case-ends-as-term-limits-fight-continues

Subscribe to dustinczarny.com for all content and election news