Latest news with #SenateBill1818
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Current Illinois state flag wins overwhelmingly in redesign contest
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The current Illinois flag overwhelmingly won in a contest to redesign the state's flag. On Thursday, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that the current state flag won the contest, following the five-week voting period. Out of almost 385,000 votes, 165,000 (43%) were cast for the current state flag. It also received more votes than the next top five designs combined. Bill in Illinois statehouse would require standardized emergency plans for schools In the contest, voters had the option to choose their favorite design from one of the Illinois Flag Commission's top 10 new designs, or one of the three former flags including the current design. The current flag has not had a major redesign over the course of the past century. 'Some may call it an SOB – a seal on a bedsheet – and the vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag,' Giannoulias said. 'Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride.' The Illinois Flag Commission is also preparing a report going through its findings and recommendations to show the General Assembly by April 1. Following this presentation, lawmakers will vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a previous version or continue to have the same one. Sponsored by State Senator Doris Turney (48th District–Springfield) and State Representative Kam Buckner (26th District–Chicago), Senate Bill 1818 was signed into law in 2023 by Governor JB Priztker. This action created the commission that looked into the public's potential want for a new state flag. The commission then selected its top 10 finalists this past December from the 4,844 entries it received during the six-week submission period, which ended in October. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois unveils winning design of state flag. See which design won
Illinois residents have spoken and when it comes to the state flag, the message is clear: if it's not broke, don't fix it. After a five-week voting period for a new state flag, residents determined to keep the state's current flag, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced on March 6. Of the nearly 385,000 votes that were received, more than 165,000, or 43 percent, were cast for the current state flag, which received more votes than the next five top designs combined. 'Some may call it an SOB – a seal on a bedsheet – and the vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag,' Giannoulias said. 'Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride.' Moving forward, the Illinois Flag Commission will prepare a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by April 1. Lawmakers will then vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a previous iteration or keep the current one. Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker in 2023, creating the commission to gauge public desire for a new flag. The commission selected its top 10 finalists in December of 2024 from the 4,844 entries it received during the six-week submission period that closed in October. Among some of the top 10 entries included a cutout silhouette of Abraham Lincoln and the state border, a corn-focused flag and a butterfly flag. More: Inspector: Springfield restaurant 'on the verge of a roach infestation' The original flag, designed by Rockford native Lucy Derwent in 1915, featured the state seal in front of a white background. It has remained the same since with exception for the addition of the word "Illinois" placed below the seal in 1969. Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@ and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois unveils winning design of state flag
