2024 Maine Question 5
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Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official flag of the State? | ||
 Proposed flag design | ||
| Elections in Maine |
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The 2024 Maine flag referendum (formally known as Question 5) is a legislatively referred state statute that will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
If enacted, it will change the official state flag from the current version, first enacted in 1909, to a variation of the 1901 flag.[a][1]
This referendum will coincide with four other referendum questions, as well as the presidential election, a U.S. Senate election, U.S. House elections for Maine's two congressional districts, and various other state, county and local elections.
Background
[edit]
The referendum had initially been scheduled for 2023, but the Maine Legislature delayed it until 2024.[2][3] The Legislature then attempted a further delay until 2026, which was vetoed by Governor Janet Mills.[4][5] On August 5, 2024, the winner of the flag redesign contest was announced, with honors going to Adam Lemire of Gardiner, Maine. His design, chosen out of more than 400 entries, features a pine tree modeled after one he saw in Viles Arboretum in Augusta, Maine. It has sixteen branches, one for each of Maine's counties. Lemire's design will become the new Maine flag should the referendum pass.[6]
Supporters
[edit]Supporters of this referendum argue that "We are the pine tree state, and I think it is a good representative, all-inclusive design, our state flag currently with a blue background in our state seal looks very similar to many other state flags," as do New Hampshire's, Vermont's, Pennsylvania's, and New York's."[7]
- State legislators
- Eric Brakey, Member of the Maine State Senate from the 20th district (2014–2018, 2022–present)[8]
- Sean Paulhus, former Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 50th district (2019–2023)[7]
Opponents
[edit]Opponents of the referendum argue that "it goes back to Civil War significance to have that blue flag. The sailor and the farmer have historical significance back to the roots of the state of Maine, and that's what they represent"[9]
- State legislators
- Billy Bob Faulkingham, Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 12th district (2022–present)[7]
Results
[edit]| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Result not yet known | ||
| Total votes | — | 100.00 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Not to be confused with the Pine Tree Flag
References
[edit]- ^ Miller, Kevin (May 17, 2024). "Pine tree or state seal? Maine voters will decide on state flag design this fall". Maine Public. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Out with the old and in with the older? Maine flag vote delayed by governor".
- ^ Billings, Randy (July 26, 2023). "Maine state flag referendum will wait until next year". Press Herald. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Proposal to change Maine flag might not go to voters until 2026".
- ^ Miller, Kevin (May 17, 2024). "Pine tree or state seal? Maine voters will decide on state flag design this fall". Maine Public. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Cook, Emily. "Flag contest winning design unveiled". Wiscasset Newspaper. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Hirschkorn, Phil (June 9, 2023). "Maine legislators consider changing the state flag back to the original design". WMTW. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "Unfurling the facts in the 1901 Maine state flag debate". Press Herald. August 13, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Support2was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
External links
[edit] Elections and referendums in Maine | |||||
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