<section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-101" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Polarized voting” means voting in which there is a difference in the choice of candidates or other electoral choices that are preferred by voters in a protected class and in the choice of candidates and electoral choices that are preferred by another class or set of classes.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Protected class” means a class of voters who are members of a race, color, or language minority group or a class of two or more of those groups.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-102" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>This title applies only to elections in a county or municipal corporation.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This title does not apply to statewide elections.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-103" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A method for electing the governing body of a county or municipal corporation may not be imposed or applied in a manner that impairs the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of the members’ choice or the members’ ability to influence the outcome of an election as a result of the dilution or the abridgement of the rights of voters who are members of a protected class.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A violation of subsection (a) of this section is established if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>elections in a county or municipal corporation exhibit polarized voting; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the method of election dilutes or abridges the voting strength of members of a protected class to elect a candidate of the members’ choice or the members’ ability to influence the outcome of an election, as demonstrated by the existence of one or more methods of election that could be constitutionally adopted that would likely mitigate the dilution.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-104" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>To determine whether there is polarized voting under § 15.7–103(b)(1) of this title, the court shall consider:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the methodologies for estimating group voting behavior, as approved in federal case law, to enforce the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>elections of the governing body of the county or municipal corporation;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>ballot question elections;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>elections in which at least one candidate is a member of a protected class; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>other electoral choices that affect the rights and privileges of members of a protected class.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Elections that are conducted before the filing of an action to enforce § 15.7–103(a) of this title are more probative to establish the existence of polarized voting than elections conducted after the filing of an action.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The following may not preclude a finding of polarized voting that results in an unequal opportunity for a protected class to elect candidates of the members’ choice:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the election of candidates who are members of a protected class and who were elected before the filing of an action to enforce § 15.7–103(a) of this title;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>nonquantitative or nonstatistical evidence; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>low voter turnout or voter registration rates among members of the protected class.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>To establish the existence of polarized voting, the court may not be required to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>use a set number or combination of elections; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>consider the causes of or reasons for polarized voting, including partisan explanations or discriminatory intent.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The fact that members of a protected class are not geographically compact or concentrated may not preclude a finding of polarized voting or a violation of § 15.7–103(a) of this title, but it may be a factor that is considered in determining an appropriate remedy.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-105" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <text>In determining whether a violation of § 15.7–103(a) of this title has occurred with respect to a protected class, the court may consider evidence relevant to whether protected class members are vulnerable to or otherwise at risk of voting discrimination, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the history and effects of discrimination against the protected class; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the extent to which protected class members encounter barriers, disparities, or hostility regarding political participation and civic life.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-106" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Office of the Attorney General and any other person may bring an action to enforce § 15.7–103 of this title in the county where the violation allegedly occurred for injunctive relief, damages, or other relief.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the court finds a violation of this title, the court shall have broad authority to order appropriate remedies that are tailored to address the violation.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A court may not order the adoption of a method of election that is inconsistent with the methods of election in use in counties in the State without the consent of the relevant jurisdiction.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The court shall consider remedies proposed by any parties to the action or interested parties.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The court may not give deference or priority to a proposed remedy because it is proposed by a county or municipal corporation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A court may grant preliminary relief requested under this section regarding an upcoming election if the court determines:</text> <level label="1"> <text>that the party is more likely than not to succeed on the merits; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>it is possible to implement an appropriate remedy that would resolve the violation alleged under this section before the election.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="15.7-107" title_number="15.7" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In an action to enforce this title, the court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation costs, including expert witness fees and expenses to a private plaintiff that prevailed in the action.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A private plaintiff will be deemed to have prevailed in an action when, as a result of the action, the county or municipal corporation yields some or all of the relief sought in the action.</text> </level> </section>