Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/06/11/2010-13393/revision-of-the-procedures-for-the-administration-of-section-5-of-the-voting-rights-act
Timestamp: 2019-10-14 00:51:47
Document Index: 761514429

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 0', 'ART 51', '§\u20090', 'art 51', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u20090', '§\u20090', 'art 51', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', 'art 51']

Federal Register :: Revision of the Procedures for the Administration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
Revision of the Procedures for the Administration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
A Proposed Rule by the Justice Department on 06/11/2010
Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2010. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after Midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.
75 FR 33205
33205-33216 (12 pages)
28 CFR 51
CRT Docket No. 109
AG Order No. 3161-2010
2010-13393
List of Subjects in 28 CFR Parts 0 and 51
Subpart J—Civil Rights Division
PART 51—PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF SECTION 5 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-13393 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-13393
The Attorney General is considering amendments to the Department of Justice's “Procedures for the Administration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” The proposed amendments are designed 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 minority citizens concerning current Department practices. Interested persons are invited to participate in the consideration of these amendments.
You may submit written comments, identified by the agency name and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking, by any of the following methods:
Fax: 202-307-3961.
Mail: Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice, Room 7254-NWB, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice, Room 7254-NWB, 1800 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006.
T. Christian Herren, Jr., Acting Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice, Room 7254-NWB, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530, or by telephone at (800) 253-3931.
Posting of Public Comments: Please note that all comments received are considered part of the public record and made available for public inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov. Such information includes personal identifying information (such as your name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter.
Personal identifying information and confidential business information identified and located as set forth above Start Printed Page 33206will be placed in the agency's public docket file, but not posted online. If you wish to inspect the agency's public docket file in person by appointment, please see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph.
The reason that the Department of Justice is requesting electronic comments before Midnight Eastern Time on the day the comment period closes is because the inter-agency Regulations.gov/Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) which receives electronic comments terminates the public's ability to submit comments at Midnight on the day the comment period closes. Commenters in time zones other than Eastern may want to take this fact into account so that their electronic comments can be received. The constraints imposed by the Regulations.gov/FDMS system do not apply to U.S. postal comments which will be considered as timely filed if they are postmarked before Midnight on the day the comment period closes.
The proposed amendments seek to clarify the scope of section 5 review based on recent amendments to section 5, make certain technical clarifications and updates, and provide better guidance to covered jurisdictions and citizens. In many instances, the proposed amendments describe longstanding practices of the Attorney General in the review of section 5 submissions. These proposed amendments should aid in ensuring that all covered changes affecting voting are promptly submitted for review and minimize the potential for litigation.
The proposed amendments clarify that the Attorney General's delegation of authority to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil rights over submissions under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act also includes authority over submissions under section 3(c) of the Voting Rights Act (§ 0.50(h)). The proposed amendments also clarify the stated authority for the Part 51 procedures to reflect the 2006 statutory amendments to the Voting Rights Act; revise language to conform to the substantive section 5 standard in the 2006 amendments (§ 51.1); clarify the definition of the Voting rights Act to reflect the enactment of the 2006 amendments; clarify the definition of the benchmark standard, practice, or procedure (§ 51.2); make technical corrections to the delegation of authority from the Attorney General to the Assistant Attorney General, and from the Chief of the Voting Section to supervisory attorneys within the Voting Section (§ 51.3); make technical corrections to reflect the new expiration date for section 5 coverage contained in the 2006 amendments; clarify that jurisdictions may seek earlier termination of coverage through a bailout action (§ 51.5); and incorporate the Supreme Court's holding in Northwest Austin Mun. Utility Dist. No. One v. Holder, 557 U.S. ___ , 129 S.Ct. 2504 (2009), that any jurisdiction required to comply with section 5 may seek to terminate that obligation pursuant to the procedures that implement section 4(a) of the Act (§§ 51.5 and 51.6).
The proposed amendments clarify that the review period commences only when a submission is received by the Department officials responsible for conducting section 5 reviews and clarifies the date of the response (§ 51.9); revise language to conform to the substantive section 5 standard in the 2006 amendments (§ 51.10, § 51.11); clarify that, in determining whether a change is covered, any inquiry into whether the change has the potential for discrimination is focused on the generic category of changes to which the specific change belongs (§ 51.12); clarify that a voting change is covered regardless of the manner or mode by which a covered jurisdiction acts to adopt it (§ 51.12); and clarify that dissolution or merger of voting districts, de facto elimination of an elected office, and relocations of authority to adopt or administer voting practices or procedures are all subject to section 5 review (§ 51.13).
The proposed amendments also clarify that section 5 review ordinarily should precede court review, that a court-ordered change that initially is not covered by section 5 may become covered through actions taken by the affected jurisdiction, and that the interim use of an unprecleared change should be ordered by a court only in emergency circumstances (§ 51.18); make a conforming change updating the address for the Voting Section (§ 51.19); make technical changes in the format in which information may be submitted to the Attorney General to reflect changes in information technology (§ 51.20); and clarify those circumstances in which the Attorney General will not review a submission (§§ 51.21, 51.22).
In addition, the proposed amendments clarify the authority authorized to make section 5 submissions (§ 51.23); make technical amendments to the addresses to which submissions can be delivered to reflect changes in the location of the Voting Section and its mail-handling procedures, to note the availability of electronic submissions and telefacsimile submissions, and to note to the availability of e-mail as a means of submitting additional information on pending submissions (§ 51.24); clarify the addresses and methods by which jurisdictions may deliver notices of withdrawal of submissions (§ 51.25); clarify the language used in describing the required contents of submissions (§ 51.27); and make technical changes to the format in which information may be submitted to the Attorney General (§ 51.28).
The proposed amendments also clarify the addresses and methods by which persons may provide written comments on submissions and clarify the circumstances in which the Department may withhold the identity of those providing comments on submissions (§ 51.29); clarify the circumstances under which the Attorney General may conclude that a decision on the merits is not appropriate and the circumstances under which consideration of the change may be reopened (§ 51.35); clarify the procedures for the Attorney General to make written and oral requests for additional information regarding a submission (§ 51.37); make technical revisions to the section that provides for recommencing the 60-day period where a jurisdiction voluntarily provides material supplemental information, or where a related submission is received (§ 51.39); and clarify the language regarding the failure of the Attorney General to respond to a submission (§ 51.42).
The proposed amendments also clarify the procedures when the Attorney General decides to reexamine a decision not to object (§ 51.43); revise language to conform to the substantive section 5 standard in the 2006 amendments (§ 51.44); clarify that the Attorney General can reconsider an objection in cases of misinterpretation of fact or mistake of law, consistent with existing § 51.64(b) (§ 51.46); clarify the manner in which the 60-day requirement applies to reconsideration requests and revise language to conform to the substantive section 5 standard in the 2006 amendments (§ 51.48); and clarify the procedures regarding access to section 5 records (§ 51.50).
The proposed amendments clarify the substantive standard to reflect the 2006 amendments to the Act and the manner in which the Attorney General will evaluate issues of discriminatory purpose under section 5 (§ 51.52, § 51.54, § 51.55, § 51.57, § 51.59); clarify the application of section 5 to de-annexations (§ 51.61); and clarify the Appendix to include reference to a list Start Printed Page 33207of bailouts by political subdivisions subject to section 5.
This proposal amends interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice and therefore the notice requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is not mandatory. Although notice and comment is not required, we are nonetheless choosing to offer this proposed rule for notice and comment.
The Attorney General, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this rule and by approving it certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because it applies only to governmental entities and jurisdictions that are already required by section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to submit voting changes to the Department of Justice, and this rule does not change this requirement. It provides guidance to such entities to assist them in making the required submissions under section 5. Further, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was not required to be prepared for this rule because the Department of Justice was not required to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking for this matter.
This rule has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12866, “Regulatory Planning and Review,” section 1(b), Principles of Regulation. The Department of Justice has determined that this rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866, section 3(f), and accordingly this rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
This rule does not have federalism implications warranting the preparation of a Federalism Assessment under section 6 of Executive Order 13132 because the rule does not alter or modify the existing statutory requirements of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act imposed on the States, including units of local government or political subdivisions of the States.
This document meets the applicable standards set forth in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.
Accordingly, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Attorney General, including 5 U.S.C. 301, 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, and 42 U.S.C. 973b, 1973c, the following amendments are proposed to Chapter I of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510.
2. In § 0.50, revise paragraph (h) to read as follows:
§ 0.50
(h) Administration of sections 3(c) and 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1973a(c), 1973c).
3. The authority citation for Part 51 is revised to read as follows:
4. In § 51.1, revise paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:
§ 51.1
(a) * * *:
5. In § 51.2, revise the definitions for “Act” and “Change affecting voting or change” to read as follows:
§ 51.2
Act means the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 79 Stat. 437, as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1968, 82 Stat. 73, the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970, 84 Stat. 314, the District of Columbia Delegate Act, 84 Stat. 853, the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1975, 89 Stat. 400, the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982, 96 Stat. 131, the Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992, 106 Stat. 921, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, 120 Stat. 577, and the Act to Revise the Short Title of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act, 122 Stat. 2428, 42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq. Section numbers, such as “section 14(c)(3),” refer to sections of the Act.
Change affecting voting or change means any voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting different from that in force or effect on the date used to determine coverage under section 4(b) or from the existing standard, practice, or procedure if it was subsequently altered and precleared under section 5. In assessing whether a change has a discriminatory purpose or effect, the comparison shall be with the standard, practice, or procedure in effect on the date used to determine coverage under section 4(b) or the most recent precleared standard, practice, or procedure. Some examples of changes affecting voting are given in § 51.13.
6. Revise § 51.3 to read as follows:
§ 51.3
The responsibility and authority for determinations under section 5 and section 3(c) have been delegated by the Attorney General to the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division. With the exception of objections and decisions following the reconsideration of objections, the Chief of the Voting Section is authorized to perform the functions of the Assistant Attorney General. With the concurrence of the Assistant Attorney General, the Chief of the Voting Section may designate Start Printed Page 33208supervisory attorneys in the Voting Section to perform the functions of the Chief.
7. Revise § 51.5 to read as follows:
§ 51.5
(a) Expiration. The requirements of section 5 will expire at the end of the twenty-five-year period following the effective date of the amendments made by the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Cesar E. Chavez, Barbara C. Jordan, William C. Velasquez, and Dr. Hector P. Garcia Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, which amendments became effective on July 27, 2006. See section 4(a)(8) of the VRACA.
8. Revise § 51.6 to read as follows:
§ 51.6
Political subunits.
9. Revise § 51.9 to read as follows:
§ 51.9
(a) The Attorney General shall have 60 days in which to interpose an objection to a submitted change affecting voting for which a response on the merits is appropriate (see § 51.35, § 51.37).
(b) The 60-day period shall commence upon receipt of a submission by the Voting Section of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division or upon receipt of a submission by the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, if the submission is properly marked as specified in § 51.24(f). The 60-day period shall recommence upon the receipt in like manner by the Voting Section of a resubmission (see § 51.35), additional information (see § 51.37), or material, supplemental information or a related submission (see § 51.39).
(c) The 60-day period shall mean 60 calendar days, with the day of receipt of the submission not counted, and with the 60th day ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time of that day. If the final day of the period should fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or any day designated as a holiday by the President or Congress of the United States, or any other day that is not a day of regular business for the Department of Justice, the next full business day shall be counted as the final day of the 60-day period. The date of the Attorney General's response shall be the date on which it is transmitted to the submitting authority by any reasonable means, including placing it in a postbox of the U.S. Postal Service or a private mail carrier, sending it by telefacsimile, e-mail, or other electronic means, or delivering it in person to a representative of the submitting authority.
10. In § 51.10, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Requirement of action for declaratory judgment or submission to the Attorney General.
11. Revise § 51.11 to read as follows:
Right to bring suit.
12. Revise § 51.12 to read as follows:
§ 51.12
Except as provided in § 51.18 (court-ordered changes), the section 5 requirement applies to any change affecting voting, even though it appears to be minor or indirect, returns to a prior practice or procedure, seemingly expands voting rights, or is designed to remove the elements that caused the Attorney General to object to a prior submitted change. The scope of section 5 coverage is based on whether the generic category of changes affecting voting to which the change belongs (for example, the generic categories of changes listed in § 51.13) has the potential for discrimination. NAACP v. Hampton County Election Commission, 470 U.S. 166 (1985). The method by which a jurisdiction enacts or administers a change does not affect the requirement to comply with section 5, which applies to changes enacted or administered through the executive, legislative, or judicial branches.
13. In § 51.13, revise paragraphs (e), (i), and (k) and add paragraph (l) to read as follows:
§ 51.13
Examples of changes.
(i) Any change in the term of an elective office or an elected official, or any change in the offices that are elective (e.g., by shortening the term of an office; changing from election to appointment; transferring authority from an elected to an appointed official that, in law or in fact, eliminates the elected official's office; or staggering the terms of offices).
(k) Any change affecting the right or ability of persons to participate in political campaigns.
14. Revised § 51.18 to read as follows:
§ 51.18
Federal court-ordered changes.
(a) In general. Changes affecting voting for which approval by a Federal court is required, or that are ordered by a Federal court, are exempt from section 5 review only where the Federal court prepared the change and the change has not been subsequently adopted or modified by the relevant governmental body. McDaniel v. Sanchez, 452 U.S. 130 (1981). Court-ordered changes covered by section 5 should be submitted for review prior to review by the Federal court, except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section. (See also § 51.22.) Connor v. Waller, 421 U.S. 656 (1975).
(b) Subsequent changes. Where a Federal court-ordered change is not itself subject to the preclearance requirement, subsequent changes necessitated by the court order but decided upon by the jurisdiction remain subject to preclearance. For example, voting precinct and polling changes made necessary by a court-ordered Start Printed Page 33209redistricting plan are subject to section 5 review.
(d) In emergencies. Changes affecting voting that are ordered by a Federal court, and that reflect the policy choices of a submitting authority, may be implemented on an emergency interim basis without compliance with section 5 only where a Federal court orders such implementation and only to the extent ordered by the Federal court. (See also § 51.34.) A Federal court's authorization of the emergency interim use without preclearance of a voting change does not exempt any use of the practice not explicitly authorized by the court from section 5 review.
15. Revise § 51.19 to read as follows:
§ 51.19
Request for notification concerning voting litigation.
A jurisdiction subject to the preclearance requirements of section 5 that becomes involved in any litigation concerning voting is requested to notify the Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, at the addresses, telefacsimile number, or e-mail address specified in § 51.24. Such notification will not be considered a submission under section 5.
16. In § 51.20, revise paragraphs (b) through (e) and add a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:
§ 51.20
Form of submissions.
(f) All data files shall be provided in a delimited text file and must include a header row as the first row with a name for each field in the data set. A separate data dictionary file documenting the fields in the data set, the field separators or delimiters, and a description of each field, including whether the field is text, date, or numeric, enumerating all possible values is required; separators and delimiters should not also be used as data in the data set. Proprietary or commercial software system data files (e.g. SAS, SPSS, dBase, Lotus 1-2-3) and data files containing compressed data or binary data fields will not be accepted.
17. Revise § 51.21 to read as follows:
§ 51.21
Time of submissions.
Changes affecting voting should be submitted as soon as possible after they become final, except as provided in § 51.22.
18. Revise § 51.22 to read as follows:
Submitted changes that will not be reviewed.
(b) For any change requiring approval by referendum, by a State or Federal court, or by a Federal agency, the Attorney General may make a determination concerning the change prior to such approval if the change is not subject to alteration in the final approving action and if all other action necessary for approval has been taken. (See also § 51.18.)
19. Revise § 51.23 to read as follows:
§ 51.23
Party and jurisdiction responsible for making submissions.
(b) A change effected by a political party (see § 51.7) may be submitted by an appropriate official of the political party.
20. Revise § 51.24 to read as follows:
Delivery of submissions.
(a) Delivery by U.S. Postal Service. Submissions sent to the Attorney General by the U.S. Postal Service, including certified mail or express mail, shall be addressed to the Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice, Room 7254-NWB, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530.
(b) Delivery by other carriers. Submissions sent to the Attorney Start Printed Page 33210General by carriers other than the U.S. Postal Service, including by hand delivery, should be addressed or may be delivered to the Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice, Room 7254-NWB, 1800 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006.
(c) Electronic submissions. Submissions may be delivered to the Attorney General through an electronic form available on the Web site of the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at http://www.justice.gov/​crt/​voting/​. Detailed instructions appear on the Web site. Jurisdictions should answer the questions appearing on the electronic form, and should attach documents as specified in the instructions accompanying the application.
(e) E-mail. Submissions may not be delivered to the Attorney General by e-mail in the first instance. However, after a submission is received by the Attorney General, a jurisdiction may supply additional information on that submission by e-mail to vot1973c@usdoj.gov. The subject line of the e-mail shall be identified with the Attorney General's file number for the submission (YYYY-NNNN), marked as “Additional Information,” and include the name of the jurisdiction.
(g) The most current information on addresses for, and methods of making, section 5 submissions is available on the Voting Section Web site at http://www.justice.gov/​crt/​voting/​.
21. In § 51.25, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 51.25
Withdrawal of submissions.
(a) A jurisdiction may withdraw a submission at any time prior to a final decision by the Attorney General. Notice of the withdrawal of a submission must be made in writing addressed to the Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, to be delivered at the addresses, telefacsimile number, or e-mail address specified in § 51.24. The submission shall be deemed withdrawn upon the Attorney General's receipt of the notice.
22. In § 51.27, revise paragraphs (a) through (d) to read as follows:
§ 51.27
(c) A statement that identifies with specificity each change affecting voting for which section 5 preclearance is being requested and that explains the difference between the submitted change and the prior law or practice. If the submitted change is a special referendum election and the subject of the referendum is a proposed change affecting voting, the submission should specify whether preclearance is being requested solely for the special election or for both the special election and the proposed change to be voted on in the referendum (see §§ 51.16, 51.22).
(d) The name, title, mailing address, and telephone number of the person making the submission. Where available, a telefacsimile number and an e-mail address for the person making the submission also should be provided.
23. In § 51.28, revise paragraph (a)(5), and revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:
§ 51.28
Supplemental Contents.
(a)(5) Demographic data on electronic media that are provided in conjunction with a redistricting plan shall be contained in an ASCII, comma delimited block equivalency import file with two fields as detailed in the following table. A separate import file shall accompany each redistricting plan:
1 PL94-171 Reference Length STATE215. Each padded with leading zeroes resulting in a 15-digit character.
COUNTY3T. RACT6BLOC. K4.
2 District number 3 3 No leading zeros.
(i) Field 1: The PL 94-171 reference number is the state, county, tract, and block reference numbers concatenated together and padded with leading zeroes so as to create a 15-digit character field; and
482979501002099,1; 482979501002100,3; 482979501004301,10; 482975010004305,23; 482975010004302,101
(3) A statement that all prior annexations (and deannexations) subject to the preclearance requirement have been submitted for review, or a statement that identifies all annexations (and deannexations) subject to the preclearance requirement that have not been submitted for review. See § 51.61(b).
24. In § 51.29, revise paragraphs (b) and (d) to read as follows:
Start Printed Page 33211
§ 51.29
Communications concerning voting changes.
(b) Comments should be sent to the Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, at the addresses, telefacsimile number, or email address specified in § 51.24. The first page, and the envelope (if any) should be marked: “Comment under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.” Comments should include, where available, the name of the jurisdiction and the Attorney General's file number (YYYY-NNNN) in the subject line.
25. Revise § 51.35 to read as follows:
§ 51.35
Disposition of inappropriate submissions and resubmissions.
(1) Changes that do not affect voting (see § 51.13);
(2) Standards, practices, or procedures that have not been changed (see §§ 51.4, 51.14);
(4) Changes that affect voting but are not subject to the requirement of section 5 (see § 51.18);
(5) Changes that have been superseded or for which a determination is premature (see §§ 51.22, 51.61(b));
(6) Submissions by jurisdictions not subject to the preclearance requirement (see §§ 51.4, 51.5);
(7) Submissions by an inappropriate or unauthorized party or jurisdiction (see § 51.23); and
(8) Deficient submissions (see § 51.26(d)).
(c) Following such a notification by the Attorney General, a change shall be deemed resubmitted for section 5 review upon the Attorney General's receipt of a submission or other written information that renders the change appropriate for review on the merits (such as a notification from the submitting authority that a change previously determined to be premature has been formally adopted). Notice of the resubmission of a change affecting voting will be given to interested parties registered under § 51.32.
26. Revise § 51.37 to read as follows:
§ 51.37
Obtaining information from the submitting authority.
(a) Written requests for information. (1) If the Attorney General determines that a submission does not satisfy the requirements of § 51.27, the Attorney General may request in writing from the submitting authority any omitted information necessary for evaluation of the submission. Branch v. Smith, 538 U.S. 254 (2003); Georgia v. United States, 411 U.S. 526 (1973). This written request shall be made as promptly as possible within the original 60-day period or the new 60-day period described in § 51.39(a). The written request shall advise the jurisdiction that the submitted change remains unenforceable unless and until preclearance is obtained.
(4) Where the response from the submitting authority neither provides the information requested nor states that such information is unavailable, the response shall not commence a new 60-day period. It is the practice of the Attorney General to notify the submitting authority that its response is incomplete and to provide such notification as soon as possible within the 60-day period that would have commenced had the response been complete. Where the response includes a portion of the available information that was requested, the Attorney General will reevaluate the submission to ascertain whether a determination on the merits may be made based upon the information provided. If a merits determination is appropriate, it is the practice of the Attorney General to make that determination within the new 60-day period that would have commenced had the response been complete. See § 51.40.
(6) Notice of the written request for further information and the receipt of a response by the Attorney General will be given to interested parties registered under § 51.32.
(b) Oral requests for information. (1) If a submission does not satisfy the requirements of § 51.27, the Attorney General may request orally any omitted information necessary for the evaluation of the submission. An oral request may be made at any time within the 60-day period, and the submitting authority should provide the requested information as promptly as possible. The oral request for information shall not suspend the running of the 60-day period, and the Attorney General will proceed to make a determination within the initial 60-day period. The Attorney General reserves the right as set forth in § 51.39, however, to commence a new 60-day period in which to make the requisite determination if the written information provided in response to such request materially supplements the submission.
(3) The Attorney General will notify the submitting authority in writing when the 60-day period for a submission is recalculated from the Attorney General's receipt of written information provided in response to an oral request as described in § 51.37(b)(1), above.Start Printed Page 33212
(4) Notice of the Attorney General's receipt of written information pursuant to an oral request will be given to interested parties registered under § 51.32.
27. Revise § 51.39 to read as follows:
§ 51.39
Supplemental information and related submissions.
(c) Notice of the Attorney General's receipt of supplemental information or a related submission will be given to interested parties registered under § 51.32.
28. Revise § 51.42 to read as follows:
§ 51.42
Failure of the Attorney General to respond.
It is the practice and intention of the Attorney General to respond in writing to each submission within the 60-day period. However, the failure of the Attorney General to make a written response within the 60-day period constitutes preclearance of the submitted change, provided that a 60-day review period had commenced after receipt by the Attorney General of a complete submission that is appropriate for a response on the merits. (See § 51.22, § 51.27, § 51.35.)
29. Revise § 51.43 to read as follows:
§ 51.43
Reexamination of decision not to object.
(b) In such circumstances, the Attorney General may by letter withdraw his decision not to interpose an objection and may by letter interpose an objection provisionally, in accordance with § 51.44, and advise the submitting authority that examination of the change in light of the newly raised issues will continue and that a final decision will be rendered as soon as possible.
30. In § 51.44, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:
§ 51.44
Notification of decision to object.
31. In § 51.46, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 51.46
Reconsideration of objection at the instance of the Attorney General.
32. In § 51.48, revise paragraphs (a) through (d) to read as follows:
§ 51.48
Decision after reconsideration.
(a) It is the practice of the Attorney General to notify the submitting authority of the decision to continue or withdraw an objection within a 60-day period following receipt of a reconsideration request or following notice given under § 51.46(b), except that this 60-day period shall be recommenced upon receipt of any documents or written information from the submitting authority that materially supplements the reconsideration review, irrespective of whether the submitting authority provides the documents or information at its own instance or pursuant to a request (written or oral) by the Attorney General. The 60-day reconsideration period may be extended to allow a 15-day decision period following a conference held pursuant to § 51.47. The 60-day reconsideration period shall be computed in the manner specified in § 51.9. Where the reconsideration is at the instance of the Attorney General, the first day of the period shall be the day after the notice required by § 51.46(b) is transmitted to the submitting authority. The reasons for the reconsideration decision shall be stated.
33. Revise § 51.50 to read as follows:
§ 51.50
Records concerning submissions.
(d) Copies. The contents of the section 5 submission files in paper, microfiche, electronic, or other form shall be available for obtaining copies by the public, pursuant to written request directed to the Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Such written request may be delivered to the addresses or telefacsimile number specified in § 51.24 or by electronic mail to Voting.Section@usdoj.gov. It is the Start Printed Page 33213Attorney General's intent and practice to expedite, to the extent possible, requests pertaining to pending submissions. Those who desire copies of information that has been provided on electronic media will be provided a copy of that information in the same form as it was received. Materials that are exempt from inspection under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b), may be withheld at the discretion of the Attorney General. The identity of any individual or entity that provided information to the Attorney General regarding the administration of section 5 shall be available only as provided by § 51.29(d). Applicable fees, if any, for the copying of the contents of these files are contained in the Department of Justice regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act, 28 CFR 16.10.
34. Revise § 51.52 to read as follows:
§ 51.52
(c) Objection. An objection shall be interposed to a submitted change if the Attorney General is unable to determine that the change neither has the purpose nor will have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. This includes those situations where the evidence as to the purpose or effect of the change is conflicting and the Attorney General is unable to determine that the change is free of the prohibited discriminatory purpose and effect.
35. Revise § 51.54 to read as follows:
§ 51.54
Discriminatory purpose and effect.
(c) Benchmark. (1) In determining whether a submitted change is retrogressive the Attorney General will normally compare the submitted change to the voting practice or procedure in force or effect at the time of the submission. If the existing practice or procedure upon submission was not in effect on the jurisdiction's applicable date for coverage (specified in the Appendix) and is not otherwise legally enforceable under section 5, it cannot serve as a benchmark, and, except as provided in subparagraph (c)(4) below, the comparison shall be with the last legally enforceable practice or procedure used by the jurisdiction.
(4) Where at the time of submission of a change for section 5 review there exists no other lawful practice or procedure for use as a benchmark (e.g., where a newly incorporated college district selects a method of election) the Attorney General's determination will necessarily center on whether the submitted change was designed or adopted for the purpose of discriminating against members of racial or language minority groups.
36. In § 51.55, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 51.55
Consistency with constitutional and statutory requirements.
37. Revise § 51.57 to read as follows:
§ 51.57
(e) The factors set forth in Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp., 429 U.S. 252 (1977), including whether the impact of the official action bears more heavily on one race than another, the historical background of the decision, the Start Printed Page 33214legislative or administrative history, the specific sequence of events leading up to the submitted change, whether there are departures from the normal procedural sequence and whether there are substantive departures from the normal factors considered.
38. In § 51.58, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:
§ 51.58
(2) The extent to which voting in the jurisdiction is racially polarized and political activities are racially segregated.
39. Revise § 51.59 to read as follows:
§ 51.59
Redistricting plans.
(b) Discriminatory purpose. A determination that a jurisdiction has failed to establish that the adoption was not motivated by a discriminatory purpose may not be based solely on a jurisdiction's failure to adopt the maximum possible number of majority-minority districts.
40. In § 51.61, revise paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:
§ 51.61
Annexations and deannexations.
41. Revise the Appendix to Part 51 to read as follows:
Allegan County: Clyde Township Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 34329 Aug. 13, 1976.
Saginaw County: Buena Vista Township Nov. 1, 1972 41 FR 34329 Aug. 13, 1976.
Cheshire County: Rindge Town Nov. 1, 1968 39 FR 16912 May 10, 1974.
Start Printed Page 33215
Pinkhams Grant Nov. 1, 1968 39 FR 16912 May 10, 1974.
The following political subdivisions in States subject to statewide coverage are also covered individually: Start Printed Page 33216
Cochise County Nov. 1, 1968 36 FR 5809 Mar. 27, 1971.
Pinal County Nov. 1, 1972 40 FR 49422 Oct. 22, 1975
The Voting Section maintains a current list of those jurisdictions that have maintained successful declaratory judgments from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia pursuant to section 4 of the Act on its Web site at http://www.justice.gov/​crt/​voting.
[FR Doc. 2010-13393 Filed 6-10-10; 8:45 am]