Until the Irish (and perhaps the British, if conservatives have their way) vote again on the Lisbon Treaty, the most interesting international ballot measure out there is New Zealand's referendum on spanking.

"Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" is the question voters will confront in a three-week-long, non-binding referendum beginning in late July. Another reason the vote is worth watching: it's the first referendum in that country to be conducted entirely by mail.

'PRO-SMACKERS FORCE REFERENDUM' reads the headline on this story about a New Zealand referendum of a law against spanking your children. The referendum will probably be part of a vote-by-mail election next year.