(a) The Attorney General will not consider on the merits:
(1) Any proposal for a change submitted prior to final enactment or administrative decision except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.
(2) Any submitted change directly related to another change that has not received section 5 preclearance if the Attorney General determines that the two changes cannot be substantively considered independently of one another.
(3) Any submitted change whose enforcement has ceased and been superseded by a standard, practice, or procedure that has received section 5 preclearance or that is otherwise legally enforceable under section 5.
(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 Sec. 51.18.) [Order 3262-2011, 76 FR 21244, Apr. 15, 2011]