The Greens have called for Stormont's controversial petition of concern to be reformed, claiming it leaves more 100,000 people with no voice when a cross community vote is required.
The assembly veto can be triggered with the signatures of 30 MLAs, meaning a majority of unionist and a majority of nationalists must support a motion for it to be passed.
However, the Greens point out that 11 of Stormont's 90 MLAs do not designate as either identity and are deemed "other". Therefore, their vote does not count towards the total nationalist or unionist vote.
In a written submission to the secretary of state and other parties involved in the talks, the Greens call for fundamental reform of the petition of concern and the assembly's system of community designation.
Green leader Steven Agnew said the current system punishes parties that are cross community and denies their voters full representation.
"In the last election, 105,344 first preference votes were given to parties who did not designate," he said.
"These votes have essentially been wiped out when it comes to key votes in the assembly such as the budget, election of the speaker or when a valid petition of concern is tabled."
The Greens have proposed that the practice of community designation also comes to an end, to be replaced with a weighted majority of two-thirds – or 60 MLAs – in favour for a motion to be passed.
The party believes that in this case, a petition of concern could still be deployed with the signatures of 30 MLAs.
The Greens also support limiting the remit of the petition of concern to matters of national identity, legacy issues and issues relating to the constitution, in line with the intended use as envisaged at the time of the Good Friday Agreement.
