Bolts

A liberal lawyer running for Georgia’s supreme court says the court is essential for protecting voting rights in the state. “People are going to have to start bringing more and more of these challenges to the state’s court system.” boltsmag.org/georgia-suprem…

Roberto Almodovar spent 23 years in prison before prosecutors dropped his case after revelations of coercion by a detective. For him, a certificate of innocence takes the place of an apology. “They’re never gonna come out and apologize to people like us.” boltsmag.org/chicago-cook-c…

Today, voters all around Texas are voting on billions of dollars of school bonds. In Dallas, voters are deciding on the largest package in Texas history. Learn more in our election guide ⬇️ boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-b…

Many local police officers are concerned about being misidentified as ICE agents, The Guardian reports: theguardian.com/us-news/2026/a…

The fight to block a planned ICE detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey, is one of many battles happening between the feds and state and local leaders. In many areas, local officials have cited environmental regulations to stymie construction. boltsmag.org/ice-warehouse-…

Georgia's supreme court elections are in just over two weeks. Voting rights were already a defining issue, and the Supreme Court’s ruling on the VRA has heightened the stakes. boltsmag.org/georgia-suprem…

It's a new month, and it's bringing its new share of elections as the midterms calendar is speeding up. Enter Bolts’ guide to the 100 elections to watch in May. Read and bookmark it to know what's coming. boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-b…

Under Cook County’s previous state’s attorney, most exonerated people seeking a certificate of innocence didn’t face any objection. But State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has reversed that trend; her office now objects to most certificates. boltsmag.org/chicago-cook-c…

Two conservative justices will run for reelection unopposed this year in Nevada. Our state-by-state guide shows this is a common sight nationwide. #NV" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">boltsmag.org/your-state-by-…

This spring, a New Jersey town’s all-Republican council passed a resolution opposing ICE’s plan to convert a local warehouse into a detention center. But the resolution hasn’t stopped ICE from moving forward with developing the site. boltsmag.org/ice-warehouse-…

Michigan's Senate is as closely divided as it can be, and one of the state's most competitive districts is holding a special election on Tuesday. If the GOP flips the seat, they'd tie the chamber. It's one of the key elections we're watching in May: boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-b…

NEW in Bolts: A pair of liberal attorneys running for Georgia's supreme court say they'll be more aggressive in defense of democracy as they try to oust justices on May 19, as the Callais ruling may make state courts more pivotal. boltsmag.org/georgia-suprem…

NEW: Chicago keeps having to exonerate people after wrongly convicting and incarcerating them. But when they then try to get a court certificate attesting to their exoneration, to help them with housing & jobs, prosecutors have been fighting them. boltsmag.org/chicago-cook-c…

As Bolts recently reported, the town of Verona, located within Dane County, ended their contract with Flock last fall out of concerns over data privacy. Local anti-surveillance advocates told Bolts that they hoped Dane County would do the same. boltsmag.org/verona-wiscons…

After a county board vote last week, local law enforcement in Dane County, Wisconsin, home to Madison, will no longer be able to use AI-enhanced cameras created by the surveillance company, Flock Safety. captimes.com/news/governmen…

In this week’s newsletter: The Supreme Court greatly weakened the VRA, and we want to hear your questions. Plus, Virginia Dems agree on an amended version of a bill to restrict local ICE contracts, Florida Republicans advance a new voting map, and more: mailchi.mp/boltsmag/newsl…

A Texas GOP congressional candidate bet on the outcome of his own election, The Texas Tribune reports: texastribune.org/2026/04/22/tex…

What questions do you have about the Supreme Court's Callais decision and the fate of the Voting Rights Act? Let us know by noon ET tomorrow: boltsmag.org/scotus-callais…

Donald Trump is looking to exact revenge in May primaries on Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, on Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and on the many Indiana state senators who defied his demands that they redraw the state’s voting map last year. boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-b…

NEW in Bolts: Under State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, Cook County prosecutors have tried to block nearly every exonerated person who has sought a certificate of innocence. Our new collaboration with @injusticewatch: boltsmag.org/chicago-cook-c…