Some flags have nicknames. People usually give them out of loyalty or pride. The United States’ flag is sometimes called Old Glory. There’s also the Union Jack (United Kingdom) and the Maple Leaf Flag (Canada). 

But some folks call the state flag of Illinois a “seal on a bedsheet.” That’s because the banner is just the state seal on a white background.

Flag experts say the design is too complicated. (Learn about flag design here.) Some people wanted a change.

Several lawmakers held a contest. They invited state residents to design a new flag. Folks voted on the top designs. One won in a landslide. 

Turns out, people wanted to keep the current flag. 

“[Flag experts] may hate it,” says Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “But people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag.”

The state flag shows a bald eagle in front of the rising Sun. Its talons clutch a shield. It carries a banner in its beak. The banner says, “State Sovereignty, National Union.” In 1970, lawmakers added “Illinois” in block letters at the bottom of the flag. 

More than 4,800 Illinoisans sent in flag designs last fall. A committee chose 10 finalists. They also added the current flag and two other historical banners.

Representative Kam Buckner helped set up the contest to see what people wanted. He says he will respect the results.

The existing flag received nearly 166,000 votes. But Mr. Buckner also points out that there were 219,000 votes for different designs. “There were more people who thought that maybe we should move in a new direction,” he says. 

He likes the contest’s runner-up. It shows the Sun rising above green stripes of prairie.

Though his choice didn’t win, Mr. Buckner says the contest was worth it.

“This reminded me that people really care about where they live, and care about the way we present ourselves to others,” he says.