(A) Reapportioning of districts. As required by S.C. Code § 4-9-90, the defined single-member election districts for the 7 council members shall be reapportioned within a reasonable time prior to the next scheduled general election which follows the adoption by the state of each federal decennial census. The population variance between defined election districts shall not exceed 10%.
(B) Copy of districts. The Clerk to Council shall maintain a copy of the council districts and duplicate copies shall be maintained by the Voter Registration and Election Office.
(C) Preclearance. After reapportionment, and as soon as practicable after adoption of a reporting plan, the County Attorney is hereby directed and authorized to submit the plan for the New Districts to the Attorney General of the United States for preclearance pursuant to § 5 of the United States Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended. He or she is hereby directed to request expedited preclearance in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Attorney General of the United States.
(D) Effective date. Provisions of any plan of reapportionment shall become effective upon, and shall not be effective before, receipt by the Council or the County Attorney of preclearance from the Attorney General of the United States; or on the failure of the Attorney General to interpose an object to the New Districts within the allotted time; or upon the issuance of a declaratory judgment by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that the plan for the New Districts is not violative of the United States Voting Rights of 1965, as amended (the first of which to occur being the effective date of this section); all in accordance with § 5 of the United States Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; provided, however, that division (C) above shall be effective immediately upon adoption of this section.
(Ord. 12-23-01, passed 12-5-2001)