Illinois could have a new state flag next year.
After launching in August, the Illinois Flag Commission released the 10 finalists for the state flag redesign contest on Tuesday. The public will be able to vote for the new flag starting in January.
The choices include 10 new designs, keeping the state's current flag or returning to previous versions of the state's flag: the 1918 Centennial Flag and the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag. The 10 finalists play with older flag designs or attempt something new by incorporating Abe Lincoln or the state's beloved monarch butterflies.
The commission chose the finalists from nearly 5,000 submissions during a meeting on Monday.
"I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in all the submissions,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a statement. His office convened the flag commission meetings.
Next month, the public can vote online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag.
The commission will then report its recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly by April 1, 2025. Lawmakers will then vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a previous iteration of the flag or retain the current flag.
The flag commission was created last year by the state government to gauge the public's desire for a new flag.
View the options here:
