After finally laying my hands on a referendum special ballot, the package reminded me of something in the distant past.

It was the scandal over my Tom Corbett Space Cadet Ray Gun.

To get that prized item, there were forms to fill out, tokens to include in the envelope, cereal boxes to cut up, Tom Corbett loyalty to declare.

I was one excited eight-year-old.

When the ray gun arrived at last, it shot baking powder an intergalactic distance of three inches.

That was my first shattering experience of being duped.

Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

The ballot is somewhat similar. There’s an element of built-in confusion and deflection about this bizarre process.

The mail-in ballot pack comes with envelopes to identify and use correctly; a pack of quite small question sheets stuck together in a Post-it stack; a page of diagrams that leave a big question unanswered; and nine vote sheets to mark before you get to the key one — separatism, question 10.

The result could be a complicated fizzle, like that dismal baking powder........

© Calgary Herald