Public can view more than 1,800 Mississippi flag designs submitted for consideration

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has received more than 1,800 designs for a new state flag.

The submissions included designs drawn by hand and with the help of computer programs, sometimes complex and sometimes simple, and oftentimes multiple variations on the same theme.

The two main criteria for consideration are that Confederate symbolism not be used and that the phrase “In God We Trust” is included.

Once designs that don’t meet the two basic requirements are eliminated, each of the nine-members of the Flag Commission will winnow those designs down to 25 selections each. Those choices will be further narrowed to 10 each, and then to the final five selections.

Public comments will be invited on the final five before a design is presented to the Mississippi Legislature. Mississippi voters will get to vote on the final design Nov. 3.

See a gallery of the designs submitted on the MDAH website.