Across 10 states, 38 jurisdictions are holding votes on at least 41 ballot measures that could prohibit or restrict data center construction. Residents cite strains on local utilities and potential childhood health issues, leading to actions like an Ohio initiative that targets an Amazon project. Despite this resistance, U.S. construction capacity rose 48 percent in gigawatts between late 2025 and mid-2026. Industry experts expect companies will simply reroute their computing projects to alternative areas if local restrictions pass.
Key points
Growing bipartisan resistance has made local utility strain and community health concerns…: Growing bipartisan resistance has made local utility strain and community health concerns key ballot issues.
State-level opposition is heavily concentrated in Ohio, which accounts for 21 separate ba…: State-level opposition is heavily concentrated in Ohio, which accounts for 21 separate ballot proposals.
Approval of restrictive ballot measures will likely prompt developers to relocate tech in…: Approval of restrictive ballot measures will likely prompt developers to relocate tech investments elsewhere rather than halt overall expansion.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
WASHINGTON, Oct 29 : Voters in 10 US states will decide on Election Day whether to curb data center development in their communities, as the rapid buildout needed to power the AI boom stirs local opposition.
Resistance is especially visible in Ohio, one of the country's fastest-growing data center markets. No state has more data center-related ballot measures, with voters in more than a dozen jurisdictions set to consider 21 proposals alongside Tuesday's midterm elections, according to the nonpartisan research group Ballotpedia.
Voters in 38 local jurisdictions will consider at least 41 measures that would delay, prohibit or impose new requirements on data centers, the sprawling facilities that provide the computing power required to run AI applications. Most states require petition drives or other demonstrations of public support before measures can qualify for the ballot, and their appearance reflects growing data center opposition across the political spectrum.
Support for banning construction of certain data centers is coming from both Democrats and Republicans, said local organizer Jessica Baker. "We all want the same thing."
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