Category Archives: Interviews

The change from an at-large vote for town board members to a ward system would be “very unusual,” said Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County Board of Elections commissioner, a Democrat. Salina and Camillus both have had ward systems for years. Czarny said he can’t remember any effort to switch to a town ward system in atContinue reading “As Democrats gain in Syracuse suburbs, GOP wins chance to change one town’s elections – Syracuse.com”

“We felt that Clear Ballot was the right option for Onondaga county,” said Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County Democratic board of elections commissioner. “We were going to choose one of the four vendors, the old machines had run their course, and all vendors represented a large leap in technology for us but we felt the ClearContinue reading “Onondaga County Board of Elections will use new voting system for future elections – CNY Central”

The machines used in Onondaga County will still require paper ballots, but it will allow for faster processing at the polls, according to the Elections Commissioner for Onondaga County, Dustin Czarny. Czarny said these new county machines are a 20-year leap in technology, and they will be ready to use for voting in the fall.Continue reading “New York State Board of Elections approves new voting machines – Newschannel 9”

“This primary is relatively small in nature and the democrats tend to have more eligible voters up,” Czarny said. “And we saw that in the early vote about 83 percent of the early voting pool was democrats taking advantage of it.” https://www.waer.org/news/2023-06-26/local-primary-races-generate-limited-interest-among-onondaga-county-voters-in-early-voting

Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said there’s a stark difference in turnout between odd years, which feature local elections, and even years, with state and federal races on the ballot. “In Onondaga County, we average, in even years, 63% turnout,” Czarny said. “In local years, odd years, it’s 32% turnout, so it’s almostContinue reading “NY state legislature votes to move some local elections to even-numbered years – WRVO”

“Commissioner Czarny and his fellow Democrat elections commissioners officially remain neutral on the change, but he sees benefits. Specifically, the turnout. On average, he says Onondaga County has a 63% turnout in even years and 32% in odd years. … Commissioner Czarny and his fellow Democrat elections commissioners officially remain neutral on the change, butContinue reading “Ryan McMahon blasts suggested change to election calendar: ‘I’ve never seen anything more partisan’ – News channel 9”

Czarny said he’s convinced the changes in the other election years will ultimately be good for democracy. “There’s going to be higher participation and many more voters choosing their representatives,” Czarny said. “That’s always a good thing.” https://www.syracuse.com/politics/cny/2023/06/democratic-ny-lawmakers-vote-to-change-county-election-years-local-leaders-cry-foul.html

Threats against election commissioners and workers have soared amid a divided electorate. Czarny shares an example that came up at one meeting. “We had some commissioners that were afraid to go to their nephew’s baseball games because people in their community were targeting them just for the crime of counting the votes, like they should,”Continue reading “Onondaga County election official returns from high-level talks in Washington, D.C. – WAER”

“This is providing clarification that will now be followed,” said Dustin Czarny, chair of the Democratic Caucus of the New York State Elections Commissioner’s Association. He said the proposals bring in line best practices for the rare instances where issues arise with a ballot. Czarny added that he believes the legislation is intended to buildContinue reading “Late tweaks to Election Law pushed by Democrats in Albany – Times Union”

I appeared with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Maine TV to talk about our trip to Washington on behalf of Issue One this week. “There are real people that are running our elections. Everyday people that are coming together, they’re civil servants and they’re trying to find a way to do a difficultContinue reading “Secretary Bellows heading to Washington D.C. to ask for safer elections – Fox Bangor News”