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.
“I don’t know how this lawsuit will turn out,” he said. “Pretty confident that if we get to the merits of this decision, a reasonable person will see that we have to put this on the ballot.”
“Questions regarding the validity of resolutions belong to the officials designated by law and, when disputes arise, to the courts,” Czarny said in his statement. “In my view, the resolution transmitted to the Board on July 17, 2026, should be placed before the voters this November unless a court determines otherwise.”
If one commissioner could prevent a resolution from reaching the ballot using those undefined powers, it would set a precedent with significant potential ramifications, he believes.
“That precedent extends far beyond this single resolution and raises significant questions about the balance of authority established by New York Election Law,” said Czarny.
“I concluded that seeking a judicial ruling is the quickest, most appropriate, and perhaps only way to resolve this dispute before the statutory deadlines,” Czarny said in a statement.
Today I filed a request for an Order to Show Cause asking the court to resolve whether the resolution establishing term limits for the Onondaga County Executive and County Comptroller should appear on the November ballot. I do not take this action lightly. This is an unprecedented situation, and after consulting with my legal counsel, I concluded that seeking a judicial ruling is the quickest, most appropriate, and perhaps only way to resolve this dispute before the statutory deadlines.
My position is straightforward: the Board of Elections’ responsibility is to place properly transmitted resolutions on the ballot—not to determine their legal validity. Questions regarding the validity of resolutions belong to the officials designated by law and, when disputes arise, to the courts. In my view, the resolution transmitted to the Board on July 17, 2026, should be placed before the voters this November unless a court determines otherwise.
While some may view this as a dispute over a single ballot question, the issue before us is much broader. At stake is the proper role of New York’s bipartisan Boards of Elections and the ministerial duties assigned to election commissioners under state law. Determining whether a resolution has been lawfully adopted is the responsibility of the appointed clerks of the Onondaga County Legislature, the Syracuse Common Council, and the elected town clerks throughout Onondaga County. Election commissioners are not empowered to independently determine the legal validity of resolutions beyond ensuring they are timely transmitted and in proper form as required by law.
If one commissioner can prevent a properly transmitted resolution from reaching the ballot based on legal grounds not assigned to election commissioners under state law, it establishes a precedent that fundamentally changes how bipartisan Boards of Elections function. That precedent extends far beyond this single resolution and raises significant questions about the balance of authority established by New York Election Law.
I recognize that my counterpart sincerely believes his position is the correct one, and I do not question his good faith. We simply disagree about the responsibilities assigned to election commissioners under the law. When bipartisan Boards of Elections reach an impasse on a matter of legal authority, the courts are the appropriate and only neutral arbiter.
I also understand the concerns of those who worry about the cost of litigation. Unfortunately, the deadlines for resolving this dispute administratively have passed, leaving judicial review as the only practical avenue to obtain a timely and definitive answer before ballots must be finalized.
This action is not about whether term limits are good policy or bad policy. It is about ensuring that each governmental body fulfills the responsibilities assigned to it under the law. My goal is to obtain clarity from the court regarding the proper role of the Board of Elections and, if the court determines the resolution belongs on the ballot, to ensure that the voters—not election administrators—have the opportunity to decide this question in November.
“They are standing up for the law as written and I believe that is important. However, this action by them has no bearing on my decision whether to seek relief in the court independently. I have a separate duty to upload election law and protect voter interests. I plan to announce shortly what my intention is regarding the legally transmitted resolution that so far is blocked by my counterpart at the Board of Election,” Czarny said in a statement.
(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.
Throughout all of this I have been committed to educating our voters. This is why I do a weekly podcast (Commissioner in a Car) and stats column (The Weekly Wonk) on my website dustinczarny.com. I also catalog interviews and media appearances there for subscribers which is always free.
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
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“This supposed path forward will only kick the legal ball to next year and we could potentially confuse voters and still be in court,” Czarny said on Wednesday. “None of this is affecting my decision about whether to go to court to enforce the resolution already given to me by the legislature.”
And before Czarny can focus on the new proposal, he continues to work through the early days of the debacle when McMahon accidentally approved the law, then vetoed it minutes later, with a potential to land before a judge.
“I think I have to go forward with what’s before me already, and that is a signed resolution, given to me timely by the County Legislature clerk,” Czarny said.
Dustin M. Czarny 