Voting will open this month – NBC Chicago

Illinois could be getting a new state flag, with residents able to choose from a total of 13 banner designs starting this month.

Nearly 5,000 applications were submitted to the Illinois Flag Commission, and 10 new designs were put to a public ballot, according to state officials.

These flags, along with previous Illinois flags and the current state banner, will be put to a public vote, with the commission expected to make its recommendations to the state General Assembly later in 2025.

“Having received nearly 5,000 applications, I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in all of the applications,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office convened the Commission meetings. flag.

Here are the 10 designs chosen by the commission:

Photos: Illinois flag design proposals released by commission

More information on the inspiration for each of the designs can be found on the Illinois Flag Commission website.

Voters will also have the option to keep the state’s existing flag. The state’s special centennial flag, which features a total of 21 stars and a blue stripe on a white flag, will also be up for a vote, as will the sesquicentennial flag, a dark blue banner with a large I surrounded by 21 stars.

Under the provisions of SB 1818, voters will have the opportunity to choose between flag designs published by the committee, but the final say on whether the state will adopt a new banner and which banner will fly over the Capitol rests with the General Assembly. .

The current flag of Illinois incorporates the official state seal, which was adopted in 1869. The flag itself was adopted in 1915, with a small addition of the state name added in 1970, according to the Flag Commission website.

Many states have adopted new flags in recent years, including Minnesota, which designed and unveiled a new banner in 2024.

Mississippi and Utah also unveiled new flags, although other states made minor changes to their designs or codified specific standards for their banners.

State flag rankings routinely place Illinois at the bottom of the list, with critics pointing out the state’s use of the official seal rather than a single design.