ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the Howard County Flag Commission has launched a virtual poll to gather public feedback on its top 10 chosen designs for Howard County’s future flag. Following public testimony submitted at a September 30th public hearing, two work sessions in October and in compliance with the Commission’s Design Guidelines and Criteria, the Commission voted to narrow the 184 eligible design submissions to 10 for public vote. Votes can be cast now through midnight, Sunday, January 12, 2025.
After thoughtful consideration, the Howard County Flag Commission has advanced 10 unique and compelling design options for additional public input. I encourage every resident of Howard County to provide their thoughts on these proposed flags to help us identify the designs that best reflect our values today and inspire generations to come.
The virtual poll asks participants to rank all 10 flag designs from one to 10, with one being the most favorable design and 10 being the least desired. Participants are limited to one poll submission and must rank all 10 designs. The poll also invites participants to share additional feedback about the designs, including what design elements of each they like best, dislike or how it should be modified. The public has until midnight, Sunday, January 12, 2025, to cast their vote.
We are thankful for the considerable engagement from the public throughout this process so far and thrilled to be able to share the Commission’s top 10 designs with our residents. We hope that members of our community will share their voices over the next two months in order to help the Commission finalize its recommendations in the new year.
Based on the results of the poll, the top five preferred designs will be presented back to the Commission for its final review. The Commission will then select its top three finalists to be presented to the County Executive for his final design vote, which will then be presented to the Howard County Council for its legislative approval. The three design finalists chosen by the Commission will each receive an honorarium of $1,000 for their work.
Established by Executive Order in January 2024, the Commission was charged to conduct a public design process to create a new official Howard County flag. The Commission accepted designs via an online application portal between April 1st and June 30th, with individuals of all ages invited to submit up to three original designs for consideration for a new county flag. In accordance with the Commission’s Design Guidelines and Criteria, each design submission required a brief narrative describing how the design represents Howard County, including its enduring appeal, symbolism and color choices.
To learn more about the Howard County Flag Commission, its upcoming meetings and the redesign process, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/flag. For questions or comments about the flag design and selection process, email flag@howardcountymd.gov.