Indiana Leaders Split Over Proposed Bail Amendment

Indiana voters will decide two constitutional amendments: one expanding judges’ authority to deny bail to defendants deemed dangerous, and another loosening residency rules for city and town court judges. Gov. Mike Braun has voiced support for the proposals in an interview, emphasizing public safety and the need to broaden the pool of judicial candidates, though a video he released about the bail measure did not explicitly tell voters how to vote. Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith urges voters to reject both amendments, warning that expanded pretrial detention could undermine the presumption of innocence and due-process protections; he also objects to changing the residency rules. Supporters of the bail amendment argue judges need more tools to detain people who pose a serious danger, while opponents say the state should address concerns about repeat offenders without weakening constitutional safeguards.