Question: The state Legislature passed an election law this year that will enable registered voters to be put on a permanent absentee voter list. What is the procedure?

Answer: For now the advice is to simply give your name and information to the appropriate county clerk, even though lawmakers had intended the permanent absentee voter program to start this year.

“;Each clerk will compile this information to use when the program is established,”; said Kevin Cronin, the state's chief election officer. At this point “;we don't know when this program will be established.”;

Cronin said his office does not have the $35,000 or so the Legislature appropriated for the program for this fiscal year.

As provided for in Senate Bill 156, the state was to provide 5 percent in matching funds in order to qualify for a $575,000 federal grant under the Help America Vote Act to get the permanent absentee voter program established.

Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed the measure, but the Legislature overrode her veto and Senate Bill 156 became law on July 1.

However, Cronin said, “;Without the state and federal funds, we don't have funds to implement the program.”;

When we contacted Lingle's office to find out why the state funds were not available, spokesman Russell Pang told us it was up to Cronin's office to request the release of the money from the Department of Budget and Finance.

“;The request from the expending agency starts the review process,”; Pang said.

When asked about that, Cronin said his office has been putting together the paperwork needed to request the funds.

“;This item has taken a back seat to our higher priority during the last more than a month or so of preparing and conducting the primary election,”; he said. “;Now our focus is on the general election for the state.”;

Cronin said if the funds are released in full, without a possible 10 percent “;holdback”; or other budget cut, and “;if we work out the procedure for permanent absentee voting among the county clerks who will administer the program, the voters interested in participating in the permanent absentee voter program are not likely to be harmed.”;

State Rep. Tommy Waters, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was surprised to hear the program was off to a delayed start.

“;We worked hard to get this darned thing passed during the last two years”; and intended to have it implemented this year, he said.

The program is aimed at “;making it as easy as possible to get people to vote.”;

To appease “;naysayers”; who predicted the program would be abused, Waters said lawmakers added a section saying permanent absentee voter status would be terminated for any of a number of reasons, such as death, registering to vote in another jurisdiction or failing to vote.

He also said the law says, “;'The chief election officer shall inform voters of the option of applying for permanent absentee voter status and shall provide any necessary form to request the permanent absentee ballot option to any registered voter requesting an absentee ballot.' It doesn't say 'shall inform voters of the program if the funds are available.'”;