The current Illinois state flag has taken a resounding victory in a recent redesign contest, effectively overshadowing the efforts to introduce a new design. Of the nearly 385,000 votes cast, the standing flag collected over 165,000, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This dominance meant it scored more votes than the next five runner-up designs, combined. The flag, which has not seen a major redesign in a century, appears to still resonate with Illinoisans.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias captured the outcome with a mixture of humility and jest. "Some may call it an SOB – a seal on a bedsheet. The vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag," he proclaimed. The decision for the flag's future now rolls to the hands of the General Assembly, which will consider whether to accept a new flag, revert to an older version, or retain the present one, as reported by both Chicago Sun-Times and NBC Chicago.
A wider selection had been up for consideration, with 10 new flag designs presented to the public as well as two former state flags, for a total of 13 options including the current flag. This was part of a process kickstarted by SB1818 and an appointed Illinois Flag Commission tasked with measuring public interest in a new state symbol. Despite the broad array of choices, none captivated the voting populace as much as the established emblem.
The flag's rivals, which included the Illinois' 1918 Centennial Flag and the state's 1968 Sesquicentennial flag among the 10 finalists, failed to garner significant support. The numbers spoke clearly: second place trailed considerably with only 32,898 votes, as "The results are, let's just say, overwhelming," Giannoulias told NBC Chicago. April 1 marks the deadline for the Illinois Flag Commission to compile and submit a detailed report with their findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.
Featuring the state's official seal, adopted way back in 1869, the current Illinois state flag was officially adopted in 1915 and later slightly tweaked in 1970 with the addition of the state's name. Its champions might argue that the flag's endurance is a testament to its character — not unlike those of Mississippi and Utah, which have showcased their new flags with efforts to freshen their symbols.
