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P. 1Revision of Voting Rights Procedures Final RuleRevision of Voting Rights Procedures Final RuleRatings: (0)|Views: 10
|Likes: 2Published by Beverly TranThe Attorney General finds it necessary to revise the Department of Justice’s ‘‘Procedures for the Administration of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.’’ The revisions are needed to clarify the scope of section 5 review based on recent amendments to section 5, make technical clarifications and updates, and provide better guidance to covered jurisdictions and interested members of the public concerning current Department practices. Proposed revised Procedures were published for comment on June 11, 2010, and a 60-day comment period was provided.The Attorney General finds it necessary to revise the Department of Justice’s ‘‘Procedures for the Administration of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.’’ The revisions are needed to clarify the scope of section 5 review based on recent amendments to section 5, make technical clarifications and updates, and provide better guidance to covered jurisdictions and interested members of the public concerning current Department practices. Proposed revised Procedures were published for comment on June 11, 2010, and a 60-day comment period was provided.More info:Categories:Types, Government & Politics, Public NoticesPublished by: Beverly Tran on Jun 14, 2011Copyright:Attribution Non-commercialAvailability:Read on Scribd mobile: iPhone, iPad and Android.download as PDF, TXT or read online from ScribdFlag for inappropriate content|Add to collectionSee moreSee lesshttp://www.scribd.com/doc/57868376/Revision-of-Voting-Rights-Procedures-Final-Rule06/14/2011pdftextoriginal 21239
/Vol. 76, No. 73/Friday, April 15, 2011/Rules and Regulations
(1) The sale, distribution, and use of this device are restricted to prescriptionuse in accordance with §801.109 of thischapter.(2) The labeling must include specificinstructions regarding the properplacement and use of the device.(3) The device must be demonstratedto be biocompatible.(4) Mechanical bench testing of material strength must demonstrate thatthe device will withstand forcesencountered during use.(5) Safety and effectiveness data mustdemonstrate that the device preventshemorrhoids in women undergoingspontaneous vaginal delivery, inaddition to general controls.
Acting Deputy Commissioner for Policy,Planning and Budget.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE28 CFR Parts 0 and 51
[CRT Docket No. 120; AG Order No. 3262–2011]
Civil Rights Division,Department of Justice.
The Attorney General finds itnecessary to revise the Department of Justice’s
Procedures for theAdministration of section 5 of theVoting Rights Act of 1965.
Therevisions are needed to clarify the scopeof section 5 review based on recentamendments to section 5, maketechnical clarifications and updates, andprovide better guidance to coveredjurisdictions and interested members of the public concerning currentDepartment practices. Proposed revisedProcedures were published for commenton June 11, 2010, and a 60-day commentperiod was provided.
The rule will be effective onApril 15, 2011.
T.Christian Herren, Jr., Chief, VotingSection, Civil Rights Division, UnitedStates Department of Justice, Room7254–NWB, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue,NW., Washington, DC 20530, or bytelephone at (800) 253–3931.
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1973c,requires certain jurisdictions (listed inthe Appendix) to obtain
from either the United States DistrictCourt for the District of Columbia or theUnited States Attorney General beforeimplementing any new standard,practice, or procedure that affectsvoting.Procedures for the Attorney General’sAdministration of section 5 were firstpublished in 1971. Proposed Procedureswere published for comment on May 28,1971 (36 FR 9781), and the finalProcedures were published onSeptember 10, 1971 (36 FR 18186). Asa result of the Department’s experienceunder the 1971 Procedures, changesmandated by the 1975 Amendments tothe Voting Rights Act, andinterpretations of section 5 contained injudicial decisions, proposed revisedProcedures were published for commenton March 21, 1980 (45 FR 18890), andfinal revised Procedures were publishedon January 5, 1981 (46 FR 870)(corrected at 46 FR 9571, Jan. 29, 1981).As a result of further experience underthe 1981 Procedures, specifically withrespect to redistricting plans adoptedfollowing the 1980 Census, changesmandated by the 1982 Amendments tothe Voting Rights Act, and judicialdecisions in cases involving section 5,revised Procedures were published forcomment on May 6, 1985 (50 FR 19122),and final revised Procedures werepublished on January 6, 1987 (52 FR486).In the twenty-four years since theprevious revisions became final, theAttorney General has had furtherexperience in the consideration of voting changes; the courts have issueda number of important decisions incases involving section 5, and Congressenacted the 2006 amendments to theVoting Rights Act. This new revisionreflects these developments.
In response to the Notice of ProposedRulemaking (
) published on June 11, 2010 (75 FR 33205), wereceived comments from or on behalf of two national public interestorganizations, one research andeducational institution, one nationalpolitical organization composed of attorneys, and one individual. Allcomments received are available forinspection and copying atwww.regulations.govand at the VotingSection, Civil Rights Division,Department of Justice, Washington DC20530.The comments received expresseddiverse views and were of greatassistance in the preparation of thesefinal revisions to the Procedures. Thefinal revised Procedures reflect ourconsideration of the comments as wellas further consideration of sections ortopics that were not the subject of comments.
Section 51.2Definitions
The purpose of the revision to thedefinition of ‘‘
change affecting voting
is to clarify the definition of the benchmark standard, practice, orprocedure. One commenterrecommended we revise this section toreflect that the benchmark is thestandard, practice, or procedure in forceor effect at the time of the submissionor the last legally enforceable standard,practice, or procedure in force or effectin the jurisdiction. We have concludedthat no further revision of this sectionis warranted. The Voting Section’spractice is to compare the proposedstandard, practice, or procedure to the benchmark. Generally, the benchmark isthe standard, practice, or procedure thathas been: (1) Unchanged since thejurisdiction’s coverage date; or (2) if changed since that date, found tocomply with section 5 and
in force oreffect.
553 U.S. 406,421 (2008); Procedures for theAdministration of Section 5 of theVoting Rights Act of 1965, 28 CFR51.54. Where there is an unsubmittedintervening change, the AttorneyGeneral will make no determinationconcerning the submitted change because of the prior unsubmittedchange. In such instances, it is ourpractice to inform the jurisdiction thereis a prior related change that has not been submitted and that simultaneousreview is required. A standard, practice,or procedure that has been reviewedand determined to meet section 5standards is considered to be in force oreffect, even if the jurisdiction neverimplements the change because thechange is effective as a matter of federallaw and was available for use.
Section 51.3Delegation of Authority The purpose of the revisions to thedelegation of authority is to maketechnical corrections to the delegationof authority from the Attorney Generalto the Assistant Attorney General, andfrom the Chief of the Voting Section tosupervisory attorneys within the VotingSection, and to conform the Proceduresto other parts of Title 28. Twocommenters objected to the revisions,expressing concern that the delegationof the functions of the Chief tosupervisory attorneys in the VotingSection results in the delegation of section 5 legal review authority to non-politically appointed attorneyssubordinate to the Section Chief.
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j l e n t i n i o n D S K J 8 S O Y B 1 P R O D w i t h R U L E S
The concerns of these commenters areunfounded. The delegation of authorityin these Procedures is similar to existingdelegations. For example, pursuant tothe appendix to 28 CFR Part 0, Subpart J, the Chief may authorize the DeputyChief to act on his or her behalf.Moreover, under the revised Procedures,the Chief needs the concurrence of theAssistant Attorney General, who is apresidential appointee, to designatesupervisory attorneys to perform section5 functions. Accordingly, we decline torevise the section further.
Section 51.9Computation of Time
The purpose of the revisions to thissection is to clarify that the reviewperiod commences when a submissionis received by the Department officialsresponsible for conducting section 5reviews and to clarify the date of theresponse.One commenter objected to thecommencement of the 60-day reviewperiod upon receipt of the submission by the Voting Section or the Office of the Assistant Attorney General of theCivil Rights Division as an unwarrantedextension of the 60-day review period.The Federal Rules of Civil Procedureprovide for the designation of aDepartment clerical employee to receivesummonses on behalf of the AttorneyGeneral. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A)(i).Similarly, and for the same purpose of prompt and efficient routing, theAttorney General has designated boththe Voting Section and the Office of theAssistant Attorney General of the CivilRights Division as the proper recipientsfor section 5 submissions.The Department has made oneadditional edit to this section. As setforth in the Notice and as described below, a second paragraph is beingadded to §51.37 (Obtaining informationfrom the submitting authority). Toensure consistency, the reference to§51.37, contained in previous versionsof the Procedures, is amended to§51.37(b),
Section 51.13Examples of Changes
The purpose of this revision is toclarify that the dissolution or merger of voting districts, de facto elimination of an elected office, and reallocations of authority to adopt or administer votingpractices or procedures are all subject tosection 5 review.One commenter suggested that weadd the extension of a term of office foran elected official as an example of acovered change in paragraph (i). Weconcluded that including this examplewould provide additional clarity. To theextent that the extension of an electedofficial’s term is a discretionary changethat affects the next regularly scheduledelection for that office, there is noquestion that it constitutes a
changeaffecting voting
covered by section 5.Additionally, extending the term of aparticular office affects the ability of voters to elect candidates of choice atregularly scheduled intervals.The commenter also suggested thatparagraph (k), which provides thatchanges affecting the right or ability of persons to participate in
are covered under section 5, be expanded to include
campaigns orother pre-election activity.
We agreedthat the phrase
without any elaboration, may carrypartisan connotations not envisioned bythe statute. Additionally,
may not include all pre-election activity related to voting, and asomewhat broader construction isconsistent with the broad scope given to
changes affecting voting
coveredunder section 5. Such changes includeany
voting qualification or prerequisiteto voting or standard, practice, orprocedure
related to the right to vote,42 U.S.C. 1973(a), and the SupremeCourt has recognized that votingincludes
all action necessary to make avote effective.
393 U.S. 544, 566 (1969)(quoting 42 U.S.C. 1973l). As a result,section 5 coverage extends to
subtle, aswell as the obvious,
changes affectingvoting.
393 U.S. at 565.Using the phrase
pre-electionactivity,
by itself, however, is toogeneral and nebulous. As a result, wehave revised the paragraph to reflectthat any change affecting the right orability of persons to participate in pre-election activity, such as politicalcampaigns, is subject to review undersection 5.Another commenter objected to theinclusion of paragraph (l) as an exampleof changes affecting voting, stating thatthis change did not fall within the scopeof section 5 coverage. A change in thevoting-related authority of an official orgovernmental entity does alter electionlaw and change rules governing voting.Thus, such changes meet the test of voting relatedness that is at the core of the Court’s decision in
502 U.S.491 (1992). In addition, a conclusionthat such changes are not coveredarguably would be inconsistent with thewell-established rule that section 5covers state enabling legislation thattransfers authority to adopt a votingchange from the state to itssubjurisdictions. See
StateBoard of Elections,
393 U.S. 544 (1969)(holding that section 5 covered aMississippi statute that granted county boards of supervisors the authority tochange board elections from single-member districts to at-large voting).
Section 51.18Federal Court-Ordered Changes
The purpose of the revisions to thissection is to clarify the principle thatsection 5 review ordinarily shouldprecede other forms of court review,that a court-ordered change that initiallyis not subject to section 5 may becomecovered through subsequent actionstaken by the affected jurisdiction, andthat the interim use of an coveredchange before it is established that suchchange complies with section 5 should be ordered by a court only in emergencycircumstances.One commenter opposed the changescontained in the section stating that therevisions appear to grant federal courtsgreater authority than the case lawrecognizes to implement voting changesthat are subject to, but not yet reviewedunder, section 5 on an emergency basis.Although that was not the intent of therevisions, we have modified §51.18(a)to clarify that it reflects existing judicialprecedent. After further consideration,we believe that, other than renumberingthe paragraph as §51.18(d), it isappropriate not to make any change to§51.18(c) as it currently exists in theProcedures.
Section 51.28Supplemental Contents
The proposed revision to paragraph(a) was omitted from the June 11, 2010,Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in error.The purpose of the revision is to makepurely technical changes to the formatin which information may be submittedto the Attorney General electronically.In addition, since the publication of theNotice, the Census Bureau has renamedthe 15-character geographic identifierspecified in paragraph (b); the finalProcedures reflect this change innomenclature.
Section 51.29CommunicationsConcerning Voting Changes
The purpose of the revisions to thissection is to clarify the addresses andmethods by which persons may providewritten comments on section 5submissions and to clarify thecircumstances in which the Departmentmay withhold the identity of thoseproviding comments on section 5submissions.One commenter objected to thenondisclosure of the identity of anindividual or entity where an assuranceof confidentiality may reasonably beimplied from the circumstances of thecommunication. The Department believes, however, that communications
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where confidentiality can reasonably beimplied are within the scope of information that
could reasonably beexpected to disclose the identity of aconfidential source.
5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7).Accordingly, this determination aboutconfidentiality is within the scope of Section 552(b) concerning exemptionsunder both the Freedom of Informationand the Privacy Acts.
Section 51.37Obtaining InformationFrom the Submitting Authority The purpose of the revisions to thissection is to clarify the procedures forthe Attorney General to make oral andwritten requests for additionalinformation regarding a section 5submission.One commenter recommended thatwe revise the paragraph concerning oralrequests to make clear that the AttorneyGeneral reserves the authority to restartthe 60-day review period upon receiptof material provided in response to theAttorney General’s first such requestmade with respect to a submission, andthat responses to an oral request do notaffect the running of the 60-day periodonce a written request for information ismade.We declined to amend the proposedlanguage regarding responses to an oralrequest because as the Procedurescurrently exist the Attorney Generalmay request further information withinthe new 60-day period following thereceipt of a response from thesubmitting authority to an earlierwritten request, but such a request shallnot suspend the running the 60-dayperiod, nor shall the Attorney General’sreceipt of such further information begin a new 60-day period. Moreover,§51.39 provides that we may determinethat information supplied in response toan oral request in the initial reviewperiod materially supplements thepending request such that it does extendthe 60-day period.We did conclude, however, on the basis of the comment that we received,that a reordering of the paragraphswould add clarity to the section andmake it more useful.
Section 51.40Failure To CompleteSubmissions
As described above, the paragraphs of §51.37 are being reordered. To ensureconsistency, the reference to §51.37(a)in previous versions of the Proceduresis amended to §51.37(b).
Section 51.48Decision After Reconsideration
The purpose of the revisions to thissection is to clarify the manner in whichthe 60-day requirement applies toreconsideration requests and reviselanguage to conform to the substantivesection 5 standard in the 2006amendments to the Act.One commenter objected to therevisions in paragraph (a), expressing aconcern that the revisions permit theAttorney General to exceed 60 days forthe reconsideration of an objection.Section 51.48 provides that the 60-dayreconsideration period may be extendedto allow a 15-day decision periodfollowing a conference held pursuant to§51.47. Moreover, the courts have heldthat when a submitting jurisdictiondeems its initial submission on areconsideration request to be inadequateand decides to supplement it, the 60-day period is commenced anew. Thepurpose of this interpretation is toprovide the Attorney General time togive adequate consideration to materialssubmitted in piecemeal fashion.
446 U.S. 156,171 (1980).
Section 51.50Records Concerning Submissions
The purpose of the revision to thissection is to clarify the proceduresregarding access to section 5 records.One commenter opposed the changes toparagraph (b) and conveyed concernsthat these changes will result in theremoval of record keeping with regardto objection files.Under paragraph (a), the VotingSection continues to maintain a section5 file for each submission, includingobjection files. Accordingly, allappropriate records continue to bemaintained with regard to all section 5submissions.
Section 51.52Basic Standard The purpose of the revision to thissection is to clarify the substantivestandard so as to reflect the 2006amendments to the Act and the mannerin which the Attorney General willevaluate submissions under section 5.One commenter suggested thatparagraph (a) be amended further toreflect the fact that the Attorney General
shall apply the same standard of review,
instead of ‘‘
shall make the samedetermination,
that would be made bya court in an action for a declaratoryjudgment under section 5. The sectionrefers to making a
asthe activity that both the AttorneyGeneral and the district court undertake,
deciding whether the changecomplies with section 5, as opposed tothe resulting substantive decision.Therefore, we concluded that no furtherrevision to the paragraph is warranted.Another commentator suggested wereplace
in paragraph (c).Although we decided not to incorporatethe commentator’s exact change, we diddecide that further refinement of theparagraph would provide more clarity.Therefore, the paragraph will reflect thatin those situations where the evidenceas to the purpose or effect of the changeis conflicting and the Attorney Generalis unable to determine that the changeis free of both the prohibiteddiscriminatory purpose and effect, theAttorney General will interpose anobjection.
327 F. Supp.640 (S.D. Miss 1971).
Section 51.54Discriminatory Purposeand Effect One commenter suggested variousminor edits to the proposed language.We declined to make these changes. Theproposed language reflects our extensiveexperience gained over the years in ouradministrative review of section 5changes, while avoiding redundancy.We did edit the language of paragraph(c) to reflect that the statutory languagerefers to a change in a standard,practice, or procedure affecting voting,not only a practice or procedure.
Section 51.57(e)Relevant Factors
One commenter suggested that weinclude
contemporaneous statementsand viewpoints held by decision-makers
in the list of relevant factors.Such statements are an evidentiarysource cited by the Court in its opinionin
429 U.S. 252, 268 (1977), andtherefore we have revised the section toreflect the Court’s holding morecompletely.
Section 51.58(b)(2)Background Factors
One commenter suggested that thisparagraph be revised to state thatwhether
election-related activities,
areracially segregated or exclusionaryconstitutes important backgroundinformation when making section 5determinations. The proposedparagraph provided that the AttorneyGeneral will consider the
extent towhich voting in the jurisdiction isracially polarized and political activitiesare racially segregated.
Courts in casesassessing whether the constitutionalguarantees afforded to persons toexercise the franchise withoutdiscrimination have been infringed haveoften used the words
as synonyms for each other.See,
e.g., Harper v.
383 U.S. 663, 667–68
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