Local ballot measures limiting data centers are on track to pass in most of 41 votes across 10 states

Summary

Voters in 10 states weighed in Tuesday on 41 local ballot measures related to data centers, according to Fast Company, which cited Forbes reporting. Ohio had 21 measures, Illinois seven, Maine four, Kansas three, and California, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Wisconsin one each. Of the measures with reported results, all but one went against data center development, and the piece says all but one of the measures limiting data centers are on track to pass. In Ohio, voters overwhelmingly backed restrictions, including outright bans in several municipalities. In Kansas, Emporia approved a ban on high-impact data centers, and Ottawa voted to prohibit facilities consuming more than 25 megawatts. Boulder City, Nevada, rejected a proposal to permit data centers in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area. In Ashville, more than 80% of voters rejected an agreement involving two proposed data centers, though the vote does not itself halt construction. The one notable exception was Harwood, North Dakota, where voters rejected a measure that would have required additional review of certain industrial developments, including data centers. Separately, Representative Ted Lieu of California, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said Democrats will hold public hearings on AI and pass reasonable guardrails next term.

Timeline

1. Fast Company

   5 Nov 2026, 17:00 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that voters in 10 states weighed in Tuesday on 41 local data center ballot measures, citing Forbes, with all but one of the measures that have reported results going against data center development.