SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – If you have an idea for what the Illinois state flag should look like, you’ll get your chance to starting on September 3rd.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says that’s when applications will begin to be accepted for a new design.
“This is a great opportunity to ensure our flag truly embodies Illinois, and celebrates our great state,” Giannoulias said.
A commission was created last year through Senate Bill 1818 to look into redesigning the state flag. The process of changing the flag is being done in a similar manner to how Minnesota changed theirs.
The commission features three members appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker, as well as four members appointed each from the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Minority Leader and the House Minority Leader.
Some of the suggested guidelines include:
- Design elements can include natural features of the state, history and culture of the state.
- 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.
- Participants can visit www.ilsos.gov and upload online or submit their design via mail addressed to Illinois Flag Commission, Howlett Building, Room 476, 501 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62756
- 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).
- To upload an image, the file will need to be 5 MB or less and in PNG, GIF, or JPG format.
- There should be no watermarks or frames around the image.
- By submitting a design to the Commission, the designer is authorizing the Commission and the State of Illinois to take ownership of the design
- Persons under 18 may submit designs if submitted in coordination with a parent/ guardian, teacher or adult mentor.
- 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.
- Designs cannot be AI generated.
- Submissions are limited to three per person.
- Submissions from outside the United States, i.e. military bases, need to be made by regular mail.
The commission will pick ten finalists, with an online vote starting on January 1st on a winning design. The design will be presented to the General Assembly, who will vote on adopting the new one, or keep the current flag.
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