Category Archives: Interviews

“It’s coming at the last minute and we still don’t even know the maps and where people are running for any of these races, so this is going to be very confusing for voters,” said Dustin Czarny, an elections commissioner in Onondaga County.  https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/ny-state-of-politics/2022/04/28/new-york-officials-assess-the-next-steps-in-redistricting-ruling-s-wake#

“In budget runs due to electoral matters, the county has to cover that cost. That is part of the county charge. In Onondaga County, this will cost us approximately $400,000 more dollars that we did not have in our budget.” Czarny says he supports independent, citizen-led redistricting, like the process underway in the City ofContinue reading “Tossed maps, disrupted election calendar create chaos, confusion for Onondaga County – WAER”

“The big takeaway is we are upending our entire political calendar. The Congressional races and the State Senate races basically start from scratch.” – Dustin Czarny, (D), Onondaga County Elections Commissioner. https://cnycentral.com/news/local/who-you-vote-for-in-limbo-amid-political-map-chaos-in-new-york

Czarny, the Onondaga County commissioner, said it will be a challenge for election workers to prepare for holding two primary elections in a new, compressed schedule. Absentee ballots for the August election would have to be mailed out in early July, just as election officials are working to certify the June election, he said. “ThisContinue reading “NY’s highest court turns Central New York race for Congress upside down – Syracuse.com”

I appeared on Newschannel 9 shortly after the decision that tossed the NY Congressional and State Senate maps to discuss what we know and don’t know on the path forward. https://www.localsyr.com/news/your-local-election-hq/new-york-court-rejects-congressional-maps-drawn-by-democrats/

“Dougherty’s retirement July 31 sets in motion a rare circumstance, because primary elections have already passed. But he also will leave before an Aug. 3 cutoff for this year’s ballot, guaranteeing that his seat will be filled this November, said the county’s Democratic elections commissioner, Dustin Czarny. Because of the timing, the parties will haveContinue reading “Judge’s surprise retirement opens 2nd seat on Onondaga County’s top criminal court – Syracuse.com”

College campuses with at least 300 active voters will need to have a polling place. According to the Onondaga County Board of Elections, colleges like Syracuse University, LeMoyne and Onondaga Community College already have this in place. This new voting rule in New York would also prevent college campuses from being divided into multiple votingContinue reading “How changes to state voting rules impact college students – Spectrum News”

“I’ve been wracking my brain all day,” Czarny said. “I don’t see an easy way for him to get off the ballot.” https://www.syracuse.com/politics/2022/04/why-will-ny-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-likely-remain-on-the-ballot-after-resigning.html

The state providing the funds to ensure it’s not another unfunded mandate also helps, according to Czarny. “It blunts opposition, which the biggest opposition to any voting reform has always been local cost,” he said. “The fact that New York state is paying for this and intending for this to be an annual fund thatContinue reading “Voting by absentee ballot? NY budget includes $4M for postage-paid envelopes – Auburn Citizen”

But moving to November is not the only option to streamline Election Day operations, said Czarny. Villages can also pay the county to operate its election for them, which can be cheaper than the village having to rent voting machines and paying staff to count ballots. “If it’s lower-cost for the village and professionally runContinue reading “Last-minute write-in campaign sparks discussion about Baldwinsville election – Eagle News”