ALBANY — It seemed, at first glance, to be an innocuous idea.

Late last month, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that he would sponsor a “statewide survey” to allow New York State residents to vote on the design for new license plates, featuring a number of landmarks.

Four of the five options were strikingly similar: On each, the state’s one-word motto, excelsior, is emblazoned across the bottom in capital letters; the color scheme is white and dark blue, with gold accents; and they all include the Statue of Liberty.

Then there was the fifth.

It has no gold accents, and no mention of excelsior — just a simple image of the new bridge over the Hudson River that happens to be named for the governor’s father, the former governor Mario M. Cuomo.