Approximately 43% of the 385,000 flag votes submitted online since January favored keeping Illinois' flag as it is.

Some forward-looking Illinois lawmakers set up a contest to design a new flag and put it to a vote. In a landslide, a winner was chosen.

Illinois' current state flag, nicknamed an SOB, wins in a landslide in a contest to design a new flag, with nearly 43% of votes cast.

That would be (state) “Seal on a Bedsheet,” the derisive moniker with which some have burdened the Illinois state flag, a gleaming white banner emblazoned with the state’s bald eagle-themed ...

Some forward-looking Illinois lawmakers set up a contest to design a new flag and put it to a vote. In a landslide, a winner was chosen. And it's the current flag.

This image provided by the Illinois Secretary of State's Office in March 2025 shows the top voted state flag design, the current flag. (Illinois Secretary of State's Office via AP) ...

Illinois-State Flag This image provided by the Illinois Secretary of State's Office in March 2025 shows the top voted state flag design, the current flag.

This image provided by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office in March 2025 shows the third-place voted state flag design. (Illinois Secretary of State via AP) ...

The commission whittled it down to 10 finalists, then added the current 1915 flag, and banners created for the state’s 1918 Centennial and 1968 Sesquicentennial.

In 1970, “Illinois” in block letters was added at the bottom. 10 finalists, plus the current and 2 former flags Last fall, residents were invited to submit their vision for a new standard.