The flag's acquisition through an online auction for more than $15,000 precipitated an investigation by Illinois' Office of the Executive Inspector General about money used for the purchase.

And they overwhelmingly favor retaining the current state flag. Illinois Secretary of State ... which has not had a major redesign in the past century. That’s the one they favored, by a lot.

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 SPRINGFIELD, Ill.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced the results of the state flag redesign contest following ... had ...