Voting for a state flag is now open

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I wanted to write about the rejected designs that I really liked. However, we can further discuss those designs that Illinois' citizens can vote on as of last Friday, January 10th.

We can start with already established designs such as our state flag. Then we will look at those designs I really like submitted by Illinois residents.

I've included screen caps and the text with the designs, feel free to click these pics for a full view of these designs and accompanying text descriptions.

The usage of the state seal isn't an uncommon feature on most state flags. The name of the state was added by a Vietnam veteran in the 1960s and it's debatable if this was a great move. He only wanted it added because he was in Vietnam displaying the flag and too many people didn't know what state it represented.

You know if this was no longer our state's flag, I'd still find a use for it. Hell some states allow governor's to have their own standard akin to the President of the United States. It would be cool if this flag could be used for that purpose with a few modifications of course.

This design has proven to be very popular. Illinois' centennial was back in 1918 and by comparison a version of our current state flag was adopted in 1915. I really like the design of this flag, and others like the design enough to design differing versions of it. Such designs that resemble this flag are part of the designs up for a vote.

This flag was used in 1968, this state's 150th anniversary. I do like this flag, though could do without the red silhouette of Illinois. The I is a nice touch, perhaps a better drawing of this state's map could work which could replace the letter I.

Now the other designs that I wouldn't mind as this state's new flag.

Now this many might deride as the least creative, however, I like this flag. It's basically keeping our current state flag and then adding red and blue bars on either side of the state seal. If I could make one tweak it would be to turn this into a tri-color and shrink the state seal in the middle to make it work a tad better.

This most resembles the centennial flag of 1918. It doesn't explicitly say the design was inspired by this blog though the colors and the usage of the stars sort of match. This would be a great state flag. I wouldn't make any changes to it at all. Would you feel great about flying this flag in your yard? This is the flag I vote for though I'm not done voting - to be explained later.

Now this flag most resembles the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag. And it has the right idea the state's silhouette wrapped around 21 stars with one larger star representing Illinois. Oh yeah the 21 stars of course represent the 21 states admitted to the Union including Illinois which was the 21st admitted state.

For this one, I would consider eliminating the image of President Lincoln. Though I get what this design is attempting to do which is recognizing one of America's greatest presidents and the fact that he came from this great state. I suppose an great design element is to acknowledge that Illinois is known as the Land of Lincoln.

Another great design featuring a silhouette of this state. It would be another design that could be perfect for a tricolor and of course right in the middle would be the 21 stars surrounding a silhouette of this state. The colors would be just fine sky or Columbia blue with navy blue and white.

Allow me to alert you to the final favorite of mine.

Another flag that I would say is inspired by the 1918 centennial flag with one twist, the six point star. The star is a feature of Chicago's flag though the red stars represents things that are important to Chicago's history. I'd say there ought to be a nod to the importance of the city of Chicago to the state. And of course as you see in the description the circle which contains the star is supposed to be the top of President Abraham Lincoln's hat which is a nice touch.

As far as voting you can vote for one flag per day (over a 24 hour period) until February 14, 2025. Your votes for a new state flag will be sent to the Illinois General Assembly for consideration and who knows what kind of decision they will make. Will the flag with the most votes make the cut to replace our current one or otherwise we still will retain the state flag.

At a later time I would like to share those rejected designs that I do like which was shared on Capitol Fax earlier this past week. Some of them were very good and it's too bad many of them didn't get selected if only there was a top 25 instead of a top 10 in addition to other already established designs.

Now allow me to add, I'm looking at these designs in keeping with discussing an Illinois Republic.