OnTheRoad

Two events on the go at the moment, and one just been.

• The NZ Election date has been announced. Time to figure out what's what back in NZ politics it seems. I can't seem to find anything that doesn't mention Winston's donations though...
• The US Presidential Election rolls on, an amusing show for the whole world really. Once again, if the world had a vote then it'd be no contest. Once again, far right religious whackjobs may carry the day for the Republicans.
• And recently, the WA State Election has just been. And the political advertising here was so low that it almost makes the US politics look clean and above belt. Almost.

Back to the NZ Election - having worked at the EEC in the past, I have some knowledge of the rules which many overseas seem to lack. If you're an NZ citizen, you're still allowed to vote if you've been in NZ at all, even if you stepped off a plane then jumped back on in the last three years. If you're a permanent citizen instead (like June) you're eligible if you've been back in the last year.

First up, check your enrolment details. If you're overseas, put down your last address as your residential address and put in your overseas address as your postal one. They'll send you out a form which needs to be signed and sent/faxed/scanned and emailed back before you're allowed to enrol.

Once you're enrolled, overseas voting opens on the 22nd of October. You can download your voting papers (there'll be a link at the EEC) using your registered details, then drop them off at an overseas diplomatic post. I seem to recall that you can fax them back somewhere, but that information doesn't seem to be up yet - it's easier than going in to the diplomatic post anyway.

A full rundown for overseas voting is available.

Not so much happening back here in Perth. I went out for a ride in the hills last weekend, if you can call the "Perth Alps" hills. Check out the map on the link back there, it seems many of you still haven't seen what the map can do these days :) On that note, you might want to check out the trip down south that June and I went on.

You can jump straight back to your last location on that page if you like, just use the "Permalink" on the page - it'll bring you right back again, or can be used to link from your own site.

And now, I'm off to go for a cycle through King's Park and hit up the Subi markets. The wind is up and the wildflowers are out; I'll throw some photos up later on.