established by the Act to Reincorporate
The Registration Committee maintains an accurate record of current voters and conducts elections: the annual Budget Referendum and election of the Board of Assessors; the March election of committees and officers; and other special referendums, such as the confirmation of a trustee. Historically, the committee also counts votes at the Town Assembly. The committee welcomes new residents and provides them with information about village governance.
For details about how we carry out these duties, see this article.
Click here for Committee Descriptions: full text
This page is maintained by the Registration Committee. Here you will find committee meeting dates & minutes and dates of upcoming elections, the latest election results, plus a list of Town Assembly motions relating to the duties of the Registration Committee
Election Procedures & Records are maintained on a separate page. For an explanation of Arden’s election procedures or for past election results, please click on the Procedures and Records link.
Complete Committee List
Click here to go to the current list of committee members and officers. For a brief description of what the committees do and how much time commitment is involved, see “Arden: Here’s How It Works.”
Registration Committee Meetings
The Registration Committee meets five times a year to prepare and conduct elections according to the Town Charter. Our annual calendar of meetings is listed below. Each meeting has a particular task to be completed (listed below) followed by committee business. Visitors, observers and helpers are welcome at any of the Arden elections and meetings. Please check this web page and the government bulletin board at the Buzz Ware Village Center for dates, times and agendas.
April: Convening meeting following March elections. Assignment of tasks.
Sept: Review of the residents list prior to fall referendums.
Oct: Mailing ballots for fall referendums.
Nov: Two vote counts: the election of the Board of Assessors using the Hare System of Proportional Representation, and the budget referendum.
March: Election of committees and officers. Election takes place at the March Town Meeting; votes are usually counted the following evening.
Upcoming elections: Fall 2020
Ballots for the Budget Referendum and Election of the Board of Assessors will were mailed to all eligible voters on Oct. 19, 2020. The deadline for receipt of ballots is 7pm, Tuesday, Nov. 17, when ballots will be counted at the Buzz Ware Village Center.
Minutes of Registration Committee meetings
2020: March 23 | May 4 convening meeting | Sept 30 & Oct 1/draft | Nov 17 | Dec 9
2019: March 26 | April 10
2018: May 3 | Sept 29 & Oct 3 | Oct 30 | Nov 11
2017: March 28 | April 8 | Oct 10
2016: April 5 | April 10
2015: March 24 | April 7
2014: June 3 | Oct 2
2013: April 11Minutes are stored at the Village Office at the Buzz Ware Village Center. Minutes that are not available on this website may be accessed during regular office hours by contacting the Registration Committee.
ELECTION RESULTS
Links to our most recent election results can be found on our Election Procedures & Records page. Results of all elections are stored at the Village Office at the Buzz Ware Village Center and can be accessed during regular office hours by contacting the Registration Committee.
Motions Affecting the Registration Committee
Below is a list of motions, passed by the Town Assembly, which relate to the Registration Committee. For the full text of these motions, see Town Assembly Meeting Minutes and Motions. Any resulting action by the Registration Committee is also noted below.
• Other motions prior to 2005 will be posted as the committee works backward through the records. Records not posted on this website are available in the Village Office during office hours.
• Jan 31, 2000. The ad hoc Welcome Hither committee, est. 9/1992, is disbanded and its mission is re-assumed by the Registration Committee, who had performed these duties prior to the formation of a sub-committee for welcoming newcomers.
• Jan 2005 – Sept 2015
3/22/2010 – 12.10. In writing the absentee ballot policy, the Regis. Comm. consider methods of increasing participation and introducing candidates. Action taken: Affidavit Request for an Absentee Ballot is available from the town website and Village office from Jan. 15 each year. Absentee balloting is publicized. Candidates are invited to post statements on a Candidate Statement web page.
3/28/2011. Regis. Comm. to establish an absentee voting procedure for the March Election of Committees and Officers by March 2012. Action taken: Absentee voting in place for March 2012 election of Committees and Officers. Number of absentee ballots cast is noted on all election results.
• Jan 2016 – current
9/26/2016. Registration Report (not a motion): 6-month waiting period for voter eligibility eliminated to comply with federal and state law. [Delaware law will be cited here]
9/25/2017. Communications. The above-cited Delaware law makes an exception for the direct democracies of Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft. After consultation with the town lawyer, The Village of Arden will return to its previous requirement of 6-months residency for voter eligibility.
Questions?
Click here to email the Registration Committee.
2020-21 Elected Registration Committee: Cecilia Vore (chair), Dela Bryan, Barbara Macklem, Marcia Scheflen, Elizabeth Varley. Additional ex-officio members: Carl Falco (Senior Trustee), Liz Resko (Town Secretary), Julia McNeil (Clerk of the Trustees)