ILLINOIS, USA — The Illinois Secretary of State's office received a grand total of 4,844 entries following its call for members of the public to create new state flag designs.
“I’m thrilled by the number of submissions the commission has received, as well as the excitement that this project has generated. I can’t wait to see which designs the commission selects for public voting,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a press release. “The contest has encouraged us all to reflect on what makes us proud to be Illinoisans, resulting in some great stories and unique designs reflecting what our state represents.”
The Illinois Flag Commission will select the top 10 designs, which will then go to the public for a vote. The commission is expected to meet before the end of 2024 to make its decisions. Once the list has been whittled down to 10 finalists, the public will be able to vote for their favorite designs online beginning in January. When voting closes, the commission will bring the results to the Illinois Legislature, which will vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a previous version or keep the current flag.