Commissioner in a Car

This week I sit down with Dr. Mara Suttman-Lea of the What Voting Means to Me Podcast.  We talk about her recent published paper  “Can Electoral Management Bodies Expand the Pool of Registered Voters? The Effects of Face-to-Face, Remote, Traditional, and Social Media Outreach.”.  We also discuss her podcast and the state of American Democracy.  Enjoy.

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I talk about the status of our June 2022 primary, which races are scheduled for a primary, a peek ahead to the objection process on petitions, as well as the status of the NYS Redistricting lawsuit.  Enjoy

In this week's Zoom with Czarny I speak to my good friend Dana Balter.  She was the Democratic candidate for congress in our area, but now she is the director of strategic communications for Citizen Action of NYS.  We had a great conversation on Democracy, budget, and running for office.  Enjoy.

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I talk about the start of designating petitions in New York.  I also briefly talk about the automatic stay in the New York Redistricting case.   Finally I remark about the late budget and things we are hoping will make it in.  Enjoy.

In this week's Zoom with Czarny I briefly react to the ruling on the NY State legislative and congressional maps.  Then I have my interview with Danielle Brecker the co-lead organizer for Empire State Indivisible.  We talk NY Democracy, budget, and what her organization is doing to support both those things and other democracy initiatives in NY and nationwide.  Enjoy.

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I talk about the final days fot the State Budget process and what it will means for County Board of Elections.  I also remark on President Biden's just released FY23 budget including $10 billion for Election infrastructure.  Also Election inspector classes begin April 1.  Finally I talk about the importance of the Governor's year  in regards...

This week in lieu of my regular interview I do another Sunday Seminar.  How to file petitions and Objections in 2022.  Learn the basics of petition filing and subsequent objections to get ready for the first filing period in a little over a week.  Enjoy.

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I give an overview of the City of Syracuse Redistricting process that is underway.  I also talk about upcoming election events like petitioning in April.  Enjoy.

In this week's Zoom with Czarny I sit down with Joanna Zdanys of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.  She is the Senior counsel for Elections and Government.  We have an in-depth discussion about the upcoming Public Campaign Finance system coming to New York at the end of this year.    Its a great interview sand I hope you enjoy it.

Village elections are Tuesday March 15, 2022 in 7 villages in Onondaga County.  Villages of Baldwinsville, Fabius, Jordan, Minoa, & Marcellus are having elections run by their village clerks, Polls are open Noon to 9pm.  Villages of Fayetteville & Manlius are run by the Onondaga County Board of Elections polls are open 6am to 9pm  Elections will be at your village hall. &nbs...

In This week's Commissioner in a Car I talk about the March 8th absentee deadline for the 7 villages having elections in March:  Fayetteville & Manlius run by the Board of Elections and Baldwinsville, Fabius, Marcellus, Minoa, & Skaneateles.  I also talk about the release of registration data by the State Board of Elections today and how it effected Congress, State Senate, and As...

A special Friday Commissioner in a Car I talk about the legislation passed by the NYS Senate Elections Law Committee last Monday, give you a day by day breakdown of some of the important events at the NYS Elections Commissioner Association Training Conference, and give you an update on the litigation with the NYS Senate and Congressional maps.  Enjoy.

In the first seminar of 2022 I go over the various ways to get on the ballot and the offices that are standing for election in 2022.  The petition season kicks off March 1, 2022 and the election will be underway!  Get all the information here!

In this week's Zoom with Czarny I sit down with Casey Cleary and Mark Matt who are running for Village of Fayetteville trustee.  We talk about village government, why they are running, what they hope to do in office, and the challenges of running in a March election.  I hope you enjoy.

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I talk about some of what I believe are the underrated moments of the Lincoln and Washington presidencies. I also outline a few things that are going on at Board of Elections through New York to get ready for signature petitions next month.

In this week's zoom with Czarny I speak to Christopher Ryan, 8th district Onondaga County Legislator, Floor Leader for the Onondaga County Legislature Democrats, and co founder of Fair Maps CNY.  We talk about the surprising change in leadership at the Onondaga County Legislature, the progress of the lawsuit against the GOP drawn maps, and what he hopes to accomplish going forward.  Enjo...

Today i talk about the Fall in Love with your party day, February 14th.  if you want to change your party before the June primary registrations must be in our office by 5pm today.  visit onvote.net to check your registration.

In this week's Zoom with Czarny  I speak to Christine wood from Public Citizen.   We speak about the failure of federal Voting Right's legislation, the promise and problem with the Electoral Count Act, and steps that can be taken right now to ensure American Democracy this fall.  Enjoy.

This is my panel's testimony in the February 9, 2022  Joint NYS Senate and NYS Assembly Budget Hearings for Local Government Officials/General Government.  I testified for direct funding aid for County Board of Elections from the NYS Budget.  You can find links to the full days testimony as well as prepared written remarks here:  https://www.nysenate.gov/calendar/public-hearing...

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I take on what Boards of Elections have to do over the next two weeks to get ready for redistricting.  I also talk about the state of New York redistricting and what lawsuits are out there, and which ones are not and what it means for the March 1 petition start.

In this week's Zoom with Czarny I sit down with CNY Solidarity Coalition's Tom Keck.  Professor Keck and I discuss the twists and turns of the SCOTUS vacancy created by Justice Stephen Breyer and any hopes for SCOTUS reforms.  Enjoy.

Today I talk about the congressional maps that just dropped in New York State. I talk about the new district that I am nicknaming the Center City district encompassing all of Onondaga County and portions of Schuyler, Ontario, Cayuga, Madison, Tompkins, and Cortland County. This unites the cities of Syracuse, Oneida, Auburn, Geneva, Ithaca, and Cortland as well as their surrounding areas. I also gi...

This week's Zoom with Czarny I speak with David Driesen of Syracuse University College of Law.  We talk about the SCOTUS vacancy, the state of American Democracy, and redistricting here locally and statewide.  I hope you enjoy.

In this week's Commissioner in a Car I talk about Governor Hochul signing legislation to extend pandemic excuse absentee balloting.  I also talk about her executive budget and what it means for elections.  Finally I remark on the news today that the NYS Redistricting Commission cant come to a consensus and thus the NYS legislature will draw the lines .  Enjoy.

Today I speak with Marty Masterpole Onondaga County Comptroller.  We check in on year 2 of being the highest elected Democrat in County Government.  We get his perspective on the aquarium, the county workforce, redistricting, and the shakeup for leader of the County Legislature.  I hope you enjoy.