You’ve probably seen it a million times. The white background, the eagle, the word "ILLINOIS" typed in a font that looks like it came from a 1970s typewriter. To flag experts—the people who call themselves vexillologists—it’s an "SOB." That stands for "Seal on a Bedsheet." It's basically the ultimate insult in the world of graphic design.
So, when the Illinois state flag vote finally happened, everyone expected a revolution. We were supposed to get something sleek, modern, and "cool" like what Utah or Minnesota just did.
But Illinois is never that simple.
The Massive Turnout Nobody Saw Coming
Honestly, the sheer number of people who cared about this was staggering. When Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias opened up the online portal for the Illinois state flag vote in early 2025, the server didn't just sit there. It got slammed.
💡 You might also like: Is a Tornado Happening Right Now? How to Track Live Cells and Stay Safe
We’re talking about nearly 400,000 ballots. To put that in perspective, that’s more people than live in the entire city of Aurora and Joliet combined. People weren't just clicking a button; they were arguing in Facebook comments, debating at bars, and even drawing their own versions on napkins.
There were 13 options on that digital ballot:
- Ten brand-new designs selected by a special commission.
- The 1918 Centennial flag (which is actually pretty cool and minimalist).
- The 1968 Sesquicentennial flag.
- The current, much-maligned "Eagle on White" flag.
The result? A landslide. But not the kind the designers wanted.
Why the Current Flag Crushed the Competition
When the dust settled, the current flag didn't just win; it dominated. Out of roughly 385,000 votes, the "Status Quo" pulled in over 165,000 tallies. That’s 43% of the total. To give you an idea of how much of a blowout that is, the existing flag got more votes than the next five candidates combined.
It's kinda funny when you think about it. The whole point of the Illinois Flag Commission was to find something that "better represents our diversity." They spent months looking through 5,000 submissions. They narrowed it down to designs with monarch butterflies, stalks of corn, and Abraham Lincoln’s stovepipe hat.
And Illinoisans basically said, "No thanks, we like the eagle."
✨ Don't miss: The Pam Bondi Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: What Really Happened Behind Closed Doors
The "Abe" Factor and Local Pride
One of the big reasons the new designs struggled was the lack of Lincoln. A few finalists tried to incorporate him—one had a silhouette of his face facing the Mississippi River—but many of the "modern" designs went for abstract symbols.
One finalist, created by Scott Clanin and Colleen Hayes of Clanin Creative, used 21 stripes to represent Illinois as the 21st state. It was smart. It was clean. But for a lot of voters, it felt a little too much like a corporate logo.
People in Illinois have a weird relationship with their branding. We complain about the "Seal on a Bedsheet" until someone tries to take it away. Then, suddenly, it’s a symbol of heritage.
What Happens Now?
Here is the thing: the Illinois state flag vote was technically non-binding. That’s a fancy way of saying the public's opinion was just a "suggestion" for the guys in Springfield.
The Illinois Flag Commission, which includes folks like State Senator Doris Turner and Representative Kam Buckner, had to take these results and hand them over to the General Assembly. Their report was due by April 2025.
As of right now, in early 2026, the legislature hasn't moved to force a change. And why would they? Political logic says you don't overrule 165,000 people who specifically told you they like things the way they are.
Is the Redesign Dead?
Not necessarily. Representative Buckner pointed out something pretty interesting after the vote. He noted that while the current flag got 43%, that means 57% of people voted for something else. There is a clear appetite for change; it’s just that the change-seekers couldn't agree on which new design was the best.
If the pro-change crowd had unified behind one "Star and Prairie" design, we might be looking at a different flag today. Instead, the vote was split among ten different newcomers, allowing the old guard to walk right through the middle and take the crown.
Actionable Insights for Illinoisans
If you're still hoping for a new banner to fly over the Capitol, here is what you actually need to do:
🔗 Read more: 13 Eyewitness News Houston Live: Why It Still Matters in a 24/7 World
- Check the legislative calendar: Keep an eye on the Illinois General Assembly’s "Short Debate" or "Consent" calendars. If a flag bill moves, that’s where it starts.
- Contact your reps: If you hated the "SOB" and wanted the monarch butterfly design, tell them. Legislators assume the 43% who voted for the current flag are the only ones who care.
- Look for the "Centennial" compromise: There is some quiet talk about adopting the 1918 Centennial flag as a secondary "civil" flag. It’s a way to appease the design nerds without tossing out the historical seal.
The Illinois state flag vote proved that while we might not have the "best" flag by design standards, we have a lot of people who are surprisingly protective of that eagle. For now, the "Seal on a Bedsheet" stays on the pole.
The most important thing to remember is that flags are meant to evolve. It took decades for the word "ILLINOIS" to even be added to the flag (that didn't happen until 1970). Maybe in another fifty years, we'll finally be ready for that butterfly.
Next Steps for You: You can visit the Illinois Secretary of State’s website to view the full breakdown of the Top 10 finalists and see exactly how many votes your favorite design received in your specific county.