There are three options for reforming the island's government

The Chief Pleas governing body voted unanimously to hold an island-wide opinion poll at a meeting on Thursday after failing to decide on changes.

The poll will be carried out by telephone and post.

Reforms could see the government made up entirely of elected members of the public or with half of the 32 seats reserved for landowners.

Sark, Europe's last feudal state, needs to reform its government in order to comply with European human rights legislation.

Stalemate

Owners of the island's 40 tenements (divisions of land) currently have an automatic seat in government and islanders choose 12 people's deputies.

A plan to split the government half and half between tenants and elected deputies was agreed in March by Chief Pleas, but rejected by the Seigneur Michael Beaumont.

Members of the Chief Pleas failed to reach a decision on the future of the island's constitution in further meetings this week.

Three options are being considered to elect 32 members to the Chief Pleas:

• Option A - all Chief Pleas members should have equal status and be voted in by universal suffrage

• Option B - the Chief Pleas would be made up of 16 tenants and 16 deputies. The tenants would be responsible for electing 16 of their peers, the people would elect 16 deputies

• Option C - 16 tenants and 16 deputies voted in by universal suffrage