Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that a panel will accept submissions to redesign the Illinois flag from Sept. 3 to Oct. 18, 2024.
The commission will select 10 designs based on how they represent Illinois, and residents can vote for their favorite design or to keep the current flag through an online survey. Voting will begin on Jan. 1 and will last around two months.
The possible change comes after the creation of the Illinois Flag Commission in 2023 after Senate Bill 1818, which aims to find a new look that depicts the history and evolution of Illinois.
“We need a flag that truly represents Illinois — a state with a strong workforce, an agriculture champion and so much more,” said State Senator Doris Turner in the announcement of the contest.
The current Illinois flag depicts the seal of Illinois, which includes an eagle standing on a shield over a white background, and has remained the same since 1970, when “Illinois” was added to the flag.
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There are several rules to regulate the submissions being sent in, including no use of AI, color usage and flag shape. Regardless of how many submissions the panel receives, there is no guarantee the flag will change.
Submissions can be sent via email, mail or the Illinois Flag Commission’s website.
