 There are two options for reforming the island's government |
An island-wide opinion poll is to be held to gauge people's views on constitutional reform in Sark. The governing body, the Chief Pleas, agreed on Wednesday to hold the ballot over the future make-up of Sark's government on 16 August.
Sark's 450 residents are to be asked whether to scrap the island's feudal system of government or adapt it.
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday in the island hall to explain the favoured options.
Stalemate
Sark, Europe's last feudal state, needs to reform its government in order to comply with European human rights legislation.
Chief Pleas members decided to hold the poll after failing to decide on changes.
Voters can chose from two options.
In the first, the Chief Pleas would be made up entirely of 28 elected deputies.
A second option would see the body made up of 12 elected deputies, eight elected tenants and eight additional elected members.
Owners of the island's 40 tenements (divisions of land) currently have an automatic seat in government and islanders choose 12 people's deputies.
The poll will be carried out by telephone and post by the Electoral Reform Service.
The president of the Constitutional Steering Committee, Adrian Guille said the Pleas decided it was best ask the community which option it would prefer.
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