Illinois voters opt to keep current state flag over redesigns after contest

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois voters have opted to keep the current state flag ahead of several proposed redesigns, the Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias' Office said.

This comes after five weeks of voting to consider redesigns for the flag.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

"Some may call it an SOB - a seal on a bedsheet - and the vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag," Giannoulias said. "Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride."

There were nearly 386,000 votes received in the contest, with more than 165,000 or 43 percent, cast for the current flag, which was more than the next five top designs combined.