Kansans hated their new license plate. Now they will vote on a replacement.

Last week, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly unveiled a new license plate design for the state’s motor vehicles. But after nearly a week of mutual criticism from voters and politicians alike, she has caved in to dissent.

Ms. Kelly, a Democrat, announced Tuesday that the new design, which was black, gold and midnight blue, would be scrapped and that the state’s voters would help choose the next design.

“Elected officials must be responsive to their constituents, and that’s why we’re adjusting the process so Kansans can provide direct input on our state’s next license plate,” she said. in a statement.

Communication from Mrs Kelly was largely met with relief, as words of gratitude poured in.

The state’s tourism and revenue departments put together the proposed license plate, with input from a design firm and law enforcement agencies, said a spokeswoman for Ms. Kelly, who had provided feedback on and approved the final design. It featured a wheat yellow background with text in black and midnight blue with the phrase “to the stars” at the bottom – the English translation of part of the state’s Latin motto.

The design was intended to solve a problem with current plates: They are embossed and lose about 50 percent of their reflectivity in five years, making them difficult to read, according to the Kansas Department of Finance.

But despite the change’s practicality, politicians from both parties and other Kansans quickly voiced their disapproval.

“Absolutely not,” state Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Democrat, wrote on X.

“I didn’t like the old one. I miss them already,” another user wrote in response to the governor’s original announcement.

Some Republican politicians pointed out the design’s similarity to New York’s “Empire Gold” license plate and used the moment to suggest Ms. Kelly’s favoritism toward her home state. (Ms. Kelly, who was elected governor in 2018, is originally from New York.)

In a letterState Rep. Nick Hoheisel, a Republican, called on the governor to choose a design “that stands out from the proposed New York-style license plate.”

The new plates were due to be rolled out in March, with motorists having to buy them for 50 cents when renewing their vehicle’s registration. Earlier this year, the state approved up to nearly $10 million for new plate production, using leftover pandemic relief funds to cover some of the costs, according to The Associated Press.

In her announcement on Tuesday, Ms. Kelly said Kansans would have the opportunity to vote on new designs that meet American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators guidelines. Details about the options and the voting process will be made available soon, the governor’s office said.

“I promised to be a bipartisan governor, and I think we can all admit — I have managed to turn Kansans across the political aisle and hate this new badge,” Ms. Kelly said.