Supreme Court ruling allows states to remove inactive or unresponsive voters

If you don't vote, you could legally be knocked off voter registration lists, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.

There are currently six states across the country that say if you fail to vote in a federal election, officials will send a mailer to your house saying the state thinks you've moved away. If you don't respond, then don't vote or engage in any election activity, you will be kicked off registration lists.

What does this mean for Southwest Florida voters? Tommy Doyle, the Lee County Election Supervisor, says in the state of Florida, there is no requirement to vote once you are registered. Only when their office receives mail that is returned undeliverable will you have 30 days to respond to a final notice. No response after 30 days can change your voter's status to inactive. If you become inactive, Doyle says you can contact the office to update your record or appear at the polls to vote. He says if you don't contact the office within two general elections, you will be removed from the polls.

Trish Robertson, Collier County's Election Communications Coordinator, says inactive voters who also do not respond to county correspondences sent to them will be removed after the second general election. As of right now, officials have a rough estimate of 14,000 voters who could be removed due to inactivity. She wants you to remember this is over a course of eight years without casting a ballot or responding to the city. She says you can always update your voter registration or re-register online.

4 in Your Corner is still awaiting a response from Charlotte County.