; and (B) ensure that no such covered practice is implemented unless or until the State or political subdivision, as the case may be, complies with subsection (c). (2) Determinations of characteristics of voting-age population (A) In General As early as practicable during each calendar year, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of the Census and the heads of other relevant offices of the government, shall make the determinations required by this section regarding voting-age populations and the characteristics of such populations, and shall publish a list of the States and political subdivisions to which a voting-age population characteristic described in subsection (b) applies. (B) Publication in the Federal Register A determination or certification of the Attorney General under this paragraph shall be effective upon publication in the Federal Register. (b) Covered practices To assure that the right of citizens of the United States to vote is not denied or abridged on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group as a result of the implementation of certain qualifications or prerequisites to voting, or standards, practices, or procedures with respect to voting newly adopted in a State or political subdivision, the following shall be covered practices subject to the requirements described in subsection (a): (1) Changes to method of election Any change to the method of election— (A) to add seats elected at-large in a State or political subdivision where— (i) 2 or more racial groups or language minority groups each represent 20 percent or more of the political subdivision’s voting-age population; or (ii) a single language minority group represents 20 percent or more of the voting-age population on Indian lands located in whole or in part in the political subdivision