The Illinois Flag Commission announced a statewide competition to redesign the state’s current flag in late August. Submissions will be accepted until Oct. 18 with no restrictions on flag shape and color, and students are allowed to participate as well (with permission from an adult). A vote will begin in January on whether to redesign the flag or keep it as is, and the voting process will last approximately six weeks.

Illinois’ state flag, which can be seen in Niles North’s main gym, became the state’s official flag in the 1960s, with a very similar initial design being used since 1915. The Great Seal of Illinois—the main design in the flag—has been in use since 1868. Always featured is the Illinois state motto: “State Sovereignty, National Union.” “The seal represents [state] government, and I believe the flag should be a symbol to represent the people,” Illinois Senator Doris Turner said in a press conference on Sept. 5.

Illinois is one of only six states in the Union to use white as its main flag color—the others are California, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Alabama, Rhode Island, and Florida, with five of the six implementing design elements from their respective state seals. 

Those uninterested in vexillology (the study of flags) may not know that several familiar flags have been changed in the past few years. These include those of Utah, Mississippi, Cook County, Minnesota, and even the City of Evanston. All of these designs were simpler than predecessors, employing fewer words. The previous designs of Minnesota and Utah feature each state’s respective state seal on a monocolor background with minor additions in the finished product—elements also used by Evanston’s old flag. This is the exact same design as Illinois’ current flag, as well as that of 32 other state flags (as of November 2023).

“Illinois’ current state flag follows the trend of others with the way it looks, [but] trends change over time,” AP Government & Politics teacher Elizabeth Schack said. “I can see [why] people want to change the flag: because they want it to be more modernized. People might feel more connected or have more state pride with [a] new state flag. Agriculture would be important to represent in [a new] Illinois state flag and also… people who live in such different communities: huge urban cities, suburbs, [and] rich rural communities.”

Many vexillologists have different reasons for declaring a flag to be ugly or unappealing, including that of Illinois. These largely boil down to the flag’s use of text, its (subjectively) poorly drawn eagle, and the general fact that it follows the same design pattern as 32 other states: centering the canvas around a state seal or coat of arms. In a 2001 survey by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), Illinois’ flag ranked 49th in a poll of 72 state and territory flags (including Canada). Many have even ranked this flag as one of the worst in the Union.

Unique representational designs to Illinois aren’t necessarily new either. For the state’s centennial, one Wallace Rice designed a horizontal bicolor flag with 21 stars in 1918, greatly contrasting the state flag of then and today. Later, for the state’s 150th anniversary, Ethan Dubrow created a more sleek and modern design that also included 21 stars, the letter I, and a stylized drawing of the state.

Considering the the Praire State’s flag’s similarity to the old designs of many others, Illinois could see a different flag in the future. This design could be much simpler, possibly minimalist, with fewer colors and even fewer words, following in the footsteps of the several recent state and community flag redesigns. But still, the current state flag is always an option, and will be included as a choice to vote for out of the final proposed designs. Illinoisans will just have to wait until February 2025, when a final decision will be made, and the flag will officially be replaced at every town, village, and city hall across the state.