This week's episodes focuses on the Save America ACT and what a disaster it would be for NY Elections. I go through it along with the MEGA proposals and possible executive orders as well as address the suspect constitutionality of it all. Enjoy,

This week's episode I talk about the upcoming start of the Designating petition period on Tuesday. I go over how we use designating petitions to get on the ballot, how they create primaries, and what goes into determining minimum signatures. Enjoy.

In this week's episode I explain the difference between State Conventions and County Designations. The state has direct ballot access while county designees still have to get petitions. This is the first step in determining the ballot each year so I take some time to go over it. Enjoy.

Each year as Democratic Caucus Chair I travel to Albany to give oral testimony on the Governor's proposed executive budget. NYSECA is asking for $35 million for aid to locality funding to support county Board of Elections.

Find the full 10 hour day of testimony here:

https://www.nysenate.gov/calendar/public-hearings/february-11-2026/joint-legislative-public-hearing-2026-executive-budget

Find my written testimony here:

https://dustinczarny.com/2026/02/15/my-testimony-to-the-nys-legislature-local-government-budget-hearing-2-11-26/

On this week's episode I talk about the February 14th party change deadline in New York. it falls on Valentine's Day every year and that is why I call it "Fall in Love with Your Party Day", I dive into why this 4.5 month sequester is actually much better than the past and what it means for petitions and primaries.

This week I talk about the troubling and alarming developments on the FBI raid on Fulton County Georgia Election offices along with some positive updates blocking unilateral Executive order to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and spurious DOJ subpoenas on Voter Registration rolls. Enjoy.

In this week's episode I talk about the 5 vacancies that have happened in Onondaga County since the November Election. Vacancies in the City of Syracuse Common Council At-Large, Town boards on Marcellus and Pompey, Town Justice in Salina and the removal of a Commissioner of Education in Syracuse create a weird set of circumstances. I also end with thoughts on the horrible situation in Minnesota and why we face a moment of truth.

In this week's episode I try to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on his role as a voting rights champion. I collected a few of my favorite quotes of his and talk about his work in Selma and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I think his story of peaceful non violent but confrontational protest is something we can look to today in this tumultuous time. Enjoy.