Political subdivisions that submit voting changes for preclearance must send copies to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters by certified mail, and the secretary of state must not put certain offices on the ballot if preclearance notice is late.
CHAPTER 13-B. SUBMISSIONS PURSUANT TO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT §1941. Voting Rights Act submission by political subdivisions; copy to secretary of state A. Each political subdivision of this state which submits for preclearance any proposed change in voting practice or procedure pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965* shall, at the same time as the submission, send a copy of its submission, by certified mail, to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters. The political subdivision shall also send to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters, by certified mail, a copy of any response to the submission. B. The entity responsible for sending a copy of the submission and any response thereto to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters, as required pursuant to this Section, is the submitting authority as defined in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. C. In order for an office which is included in a reapportionment or redistricting plan to be included on the ballot for an election, a notice that such plan has been precleared pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 shall be received by the secretary of state not later than 5:00 p.m. of the fifth business day prior to the scheduled opening of the qualifying period for the election. If the notice of preclearance is not timely received by the secretary of state, the election shall be postponed and shall be scheduled at the next available election date and such election shall not be considered a special election. The secretary of state shall not include on the ballot for the election any office for which notice of preclearance of the reapportionment or redistricting plan is not timely received. Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1022, §1; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012. *42 U.S.C. 1971, et seq.