28 CFR § 51.16 - Distinction between changes in procedure and changes in substance.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s51.16"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "28 CFR § 51.16 - Distinction between changes in procedure and changes in substance."
title_number: 28
title_name: "Judicial Administration"
section_number: "51.16"
section_name: "Distinction between changes in procedure and changes in substance."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
part_number: "51"
part_name: "PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF SECTION 5 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, and 42 U.S.C. 1973b, 1973c."
regulatory_source: "52 FR 490, Jan. 6, 1987, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "51"
---


# 51.16 Distinction between changes in procedure and changes in substance.

The failure of the Attorney General to interpose an objection to a procedure for instituting a change affecting voting does not exempt the substantive change from the preclearance requirement. For example, if the procedure for the approval of an annexation is changed from city council approval to approval in a referendum, the preclearance of the new procedure does not exempt an annexation accomplished under the new procedure from the preclearance requirement.