Voters rejected data center development in nearly all local midterm ballot measures
Voters across the country rejected or restricted data center development in local ballot measures during the 2026 midterms, signaling broad resistance to AI infrastructure. In Trenton, Ohio, voters banned centers over 25 megawatts; nearly 80% of Joliet, Illinois, voters backed restrictions. Harwood, North Dakota, was the lone community where voters rejected data center restrictions.
More context
Voters rejected data center development in nearly all local ballot measures in the 2026 midterms, backing restrictions or bans in communities across the country. The New York Times counted 40 of 41 local initiatives against development, while WPTZ reported a nationwide tally of 44-1. The Times said more than half of the initiatives it counted were in Ohio. Capital B News reported that nearly 80% of voters in Joliet, Illinois, backed restrictions. In Ohio, Trenton voters banned data centers larger than 25 megawatts, while Hubbard voters barred construction of facilities of any size, including conversions of existing buildings, NPR reported. Harwood, North Dakota, was the only community identified as supporting no restrictions: NPR said 75% of voters opposed restrictions on industrial projects, including data centers.
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Reporting
- New York Post — Voters reject data centers in nearly 50 ballot initiatives during midterms in major setback to AI bigwigs
- CNBC — Voters rebuff data centers in every ballot measure except one
- The New York Times — Voters Rejected A.I. in the Midterms. Now Comes an Era of Scrutiny. - The New York Times
- National Public Radio — Midterm ballot measures, from abortion to LGBTQ rights to guns : NPR
- The Washington Post — Voters pass over 20 ballot measures to ban or restrict data centers - The Washington Post
- capitalbnews.org — Voters Reject Data Centers in 2026 Midterm Elections - Capital B News
- wptz.com — 44-1: Voters reject data centers in communities on Election Day - WPTZ
- stateline.org — Voters across the country reject data centers • Stateline
Verifier’s note
Capital B News, WPTZ, the New York Post, Stateline, CNBC, The New York Times, NPR, and The Washington Post all report that voters rejected or restricted data-center projects in the 2026 midterms, with one reported exception. The reports were published on November 4, and their differing initiative counts do not contradict that central claim.