Letter: Other more accurate poll methods are available in the discussion about the future of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland could be:

(a) in the four-part UK, as at present;

(b) in a two-/four-part federal Ireland;

(c) under joint British-Irish authority;

(d) in a W-I-S-E {Wales-Ireland-Scotland-England} federation (not unlike the Nordic Union).

Pluralism is possible. First hold a Citizen’s Assembly to draw up a four- to six-option ballot.

New Zealand had a five-option referendum in 1992; Guam had a six-option poll in 1982; the world’s first multi-option vote was in 1197 in China; and the UK had a three-option plebiscite for Newfoundland in 1948.

Ireland has yet to try.

Binary ballots have often led to wars, as in the Balkans and now Ukraine.

But there is no good reason why we must restrict ourselves to a voting procedure which is archaic, divisive and, at worst, a provocation to violence, especially when other, more accurate, multi-optional and even preferential methodologies are available.

Dr Peter Emerson, The de Borda Institute