Flagged For Review: Illinois Flag Commission Picks Finalists In Design Contest

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Flag Commission has picked 10 finalists from nearly 5,000 submissions for a potential new state flag, and state officials plan to hold a nonbinding public vote in the new year.

State lawmakers will have the final say on whether to change the flag at all.

The appointed flag commission was originally required to convene by Sept. 1, 2023.

After state officials blew through that deadline, the Illinois General Assembly amended the law to extend it.

The commission, chaired by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias or his designee, also missed the extended deadline of June 30.

It ended up only ever holding three meetings before releasing the finalists this week, records show.

Giannoulias said voting will open to Illinois residents at some point in January.

"If you don't like the new designs you can choose to keep the current flag or choose from two historical ones," Giannoulias said, announcing the new designs in a video.

"As the saying goes, ‘if you don’t vote, you can’t complain,' so make your voice heard and select the flag you think best embodies and celebrates our great state," he said. "And remember, you can always stick with the current one.”

Patch asked Giannoulias' spokespeople about the voting process, including what measures, if any, his staff plans to regulate it.

"Per the Flag Commission, voting will be limited to one vote per person per day and will be overseen by the Secretary of State’s IT Department to ensure the proper protocols are followed," his staff said in a statement.

"Voting will begin in January and will remain open for six weeks," it said. "After this period the Flag Commission will report its findings to the General Assembly by April 1, 2025."

There has been no indication state officials plan to hold a formal advisory referendum at an actual election, as other states have done when adopting new flags.

The current flag, which features the state seal on a white background, has been in use since 1915. The word "Illinois" was added during the Vietnam War in response to concerns the banner was so nondescript as to make it unclear which state it represented.

Submissions for new designs were accepted for about seven weeks ending Oct. 18.

The commission picked 10 finalists from 4,844 responses — and one of them is essentially the same as the current flag.

Each finalist provided statements describing their connection to Illinois and the meaning behind their flag, each of which was assigned numbers.

4669: The flag features 21 red and white stripes for Illinois' statehood rank, a blue field with a six-pointed star symbolizing Chicago and a negative space forming an “I” for Illinois.

4321: The flag highlights the Monarch butterfly as the state butterfly, 21 stars for Illinois’ statehood, while using orange and blue to symbolize success, trust and strength.

4220: The design incorporates elements of the American and French flags, a silhouette of Abraham Lincoln, and a red field representing the Mississippi River flowing toward the future.

4129: The flag features four dark blue bars representing significant rivers and lakes in Illinois, with a corn kernel and 21-pronged gear forming the state flower to symbolize agriculture and industry.

3754: A gold star represents Illinois’ standout qualities, while blue lines symbolize Lake Michigan and abstractly depict the view from Abraham Lincoln’s hat.

3679: The design combines Lincoln’s silhouette, Illinois' outline, and 21 stars for statehood, with dark blue, gold and white reflecting industrial power, agricultural history and state pride.

2752: This flag centers on Illinois’ distinctive outline surrounded by 21 stars for statehood and blue edges representing the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan.

2246: The 21 stripes symbolize statehood and agriculture, while three six-pointed stars represent Illinois’ regions, with a sun on the horizon denoting renewal and progress.

896: A practical update to the current flag, this design adds red and blue bars on the sides to eliminate the “seal-on-bedsheet” appearance.

200: The flag alternates white and blue stripes to represent agriculture, commerce and rivers, with a large center star surrounded by 20 smaller stars symbolizing Illinois as the 21st state.

Two flags used for anniversaries of Illinois' statehood will also be in the mix for voting. Both use 21 stars to symbolize its status as the 21st state.

Related: With Mobile Driver’s License Deadline Looming, No Updates From Illinois Secretary Of State