The clock is ticking for Illinois residents to leave their mark on the state's history by designing its new flag. The Illinois Flag Commission, following Senate Bill 1818, has been receiving public submissions since last month, with over 1,000 designs already pitched to replace the current emblem. The commission, established by a law signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker, cites October 18 as the deadline for design proposals, NBC Chicago reported.
Instructions for the hopeful flag designers specify that submissions should be uploaded to the state's website or sent via mail to the commission's office in Springfield. As per the commission's rules, each participant is allowed a maximum of three flag designs, each aimed at encapsulating the identity and spirit of Illinois. The banner must "reflect the identity of Illinois" with suggestions to include elements denoting the state's natural features, history, and culture, according to NBC Chicago.
The process for selecting the new flag involves a public online vote of 10 chosen designs in January, after which the design will be presented to the General Assembly. The Assembly will then decide whether to adopt the new flag and which design will be hoisted as Illinois's new emblem. Amidst the multitude of designs, proponents of the Centennial flag hold that its "elegant simplicity and unifying message" make it an ideal choice. "It deserves serious consideration as our next state flag," the Chicago Sun-Times stated.
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