Categories: WTVO

Illinois voters favor current state flag, reject proposals for redesign

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois residents voted to keep the existing state flag design in a contest aimed at updating and replacing the flag.

The Illinois Flag Commission solicited new designs last year, receiving nearly 5,000 entries.

The commission narrowed the field to 10 designs, including the current state flag, which became eligible for a public vote in January.

“The results are, let’s just say, overwhelming,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulious said. “The current state flag received more than 165,000 votes, or about 43% of the total vote.”

Of the 385,000 votes received, the current flag received more votes than the top 5 designs combined.

“Some may call it an SOB – a seal on a bedsheet,” Giannoulias said. “The vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag. Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride.”

On April 1st, the Illinois General Assembly will vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a prior version of the flag, or retain the current flag.

The current state flag was adopted in 1915 after the state held a contest to create a flag, nearly 100 years after Illinois was admitted into the Union.

Lucy Derwent, of the Rockford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, placed the Illinois state seal on a white background, and it was chosen to represent the state. She won $25 (the equivalent of $600 today) for her winning design.

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