ILLINOIS, USA — Illinois' state flag has a lot going on. The banner includes everything from an eagle holding a shield bearing the national stars and stripes, a ribbon being the state motto of "State sovereignty - national union" and a rising sun over a stretch of land and water.
A new contest, however, is set to update and modernize the flag.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced Wednesday that the state will begin accepting public submissions for a new state flag design starting Sept. 3. Residents will be able to submit their designs through Oct. 18.
Those interested in submitting a design can upload it online or send it through the mail addressed to the Illinois Flag Commission, Howlett Building, Room 476, 501 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62756.
Giannoulias included general guidance for submissions in the press release, including:
- Participants are required to provide their first and last name, address, email address and phone number. They are also required to explain their relationship to Illinois and provide a description of their flag entry (each category limited to 500 characters).
- Designs cannot be AI-generated.
- Submissions are limited to three per person.
- Designs cannot be copied from other designs or use existing logos or copyrighted materials; however, the design can include elements or reproductions of the State Seal or any prior Illinois State flag.
- No limit on flag shape or ratio but designs may be edited by the commission.
- No limit on colors but recommended less than three colors for clarity of design.
- Persons under 18 may submit designs if submitted in coordination with a parent/ guardian, teacher or adult mentor.
“I’m excited to see the creativity of Illinois residents and how they display their passion for our great state,” Giannoulias said in a press release. “The symbols that represent and unify our state are important and this presents an excellent opportunity to engage Illinoisans and showcase their pride.”
The contest started after the Illinois legislature passed Senate Bill 1818 to establish the Illinois Flag Commission with the sole purpose of developing a new design. The commission will select 10 designs based on how they "reflect the identity of Illinois" and will host an online public survey to vote on the state's favorites. Voting will begin Jan. 1 and last six weeks.
Click here for more information about the contest and how to submit a design.