Illinois wants YOU to design a new state flag

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois is having a competition to design a new state flag, and residents are encouraged to submit their proposals.

The contest will open on Tuesday, September 3rd and run until October 18th.

The Illinois General Assembly will then decide whether to adopt a new flag, or keep the existing design.

“I’m excited to see the creativity of Illinois residents and how they display their passion for our great state,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “The symbols that represent and unify our state are important and this presents an excellent opportunity to engage Illinoisans and showcase their pride.”

According to a press release, “the commission [will] evaluate if a new state flag would better represent the state’s diversity of urban, suburban and rural communities and inspire renewed state pride among Illinoisans.”

Sen. Doris Turner (D-48th Dist.), who sponsored a bill creating an Illinois commission to design a new flag, said, “We need a flag that truly represents Illinois – a state with a strong workforce, an agriculture champion and so much more.”

The commission will select 10 designs based on how they reflect the identity of Illinois, and will then allow residents to vote on their favorite, beginning January 1st, 2025.

Some general guidance for submissions includes:

• 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 recommend 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.

Besides Illinois, other states have changed or are considering changing their state flags. Minnesota unveiled its new flag in December 2023; Michigan and Maine are considering an official change to their state flags.

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