12 hours Ago By BRENDEN MOORE [email protected]
The Illinois Secretary of State's office on Tuesday released images of the selections, which the public will be able to vote on starting next month. Among them: two featuring silhouettes of former President Abraham Lincoln; one featuring an orange outline of the state's official butterfly, the monarch; one with a gear and corn kernels to represent the state's robust industrial and agricultural might; and several featuring 21 stars or stripes to symbolize Illinois' status as the 21st state in the nation. Names of the artists behind each design were not released, but officials did distribute information about their connection to Illinois and the meaning behind their flag designs.
Two artists identified connections to Bloomington-Normal and McLean County. If residents want to maintain the status quo or go back to the future, they will also have the option to keep the current state flag or adopt either the 1918 centennial flag or 1968 sesquicentennial flag. Scroll to the bottom to see the all of the flag designs and explanations.
The contest comes after state lawmakers passed and Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in 2023 the creation of a commission that would decide the fate of the state's current flag and make recommendations for a new or revised flag. The current flag was adopted by the state legislature in 1915.
It features the state seal, which dates to 1868, on a white field. It depicts an eagle with a banner in its beak with the state motto, “State Sovereignty, National Union.” The bird is also carrying a shield in its talons, with 13 stars and strips representing the original colonies.
It also features a prairie with the sun rising over water in the background. The flag was amended in 1970 to include the state's name below the seal. While it is not universally reviled, the flag has never been considered an iconic symbol of the state like its universally-recognized counterparts in states like California, Colorado and Texas.
State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, the sponsor of the law, told Lee Enterprises last year that she hoped it would generate civic engagement, a more cohesive state identity and Illinois pride. Illinois modeled its contest after states like Utah and Minnesota, which have adopted new state flags in recent years.
Voting will open in January online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag .
Once completed, the commission will submit a report with a recommendation to the Illinois General Assembly by April 1. See all the designs:.
