Local data center restrictions win most midterm ballot measures across the US
Only three projects totaling 2.3 gigawatts have been delayed so far, so the immediate effect on build-out remains limited.
Voters in several US counties pushed data center restrictions onto the midterm ballot, and early tallies show most of those measures passing. Data Centers on the Ballot counts 33 restrictions already won and six more leading, with only one failing in Harwood, North Dakota. The results land on the Trump administration, which has pushed AI infrastructure, though polling showing about 70% of Americans opposing AI data center build-outs suggested the outcome was not a surprise. Measures ranged from permanent bans and moratoriums to time-limited rules and caps tied to size or power use. Local recalls also followed, with officials removed in Piqua, Ohio and Yukon, Oklahoma after backing data center bans. Industry impact remains unclear, since only three projects totaling 2.3 gigawatts have been delayed so far, while 38 gigawatts are still expected online by 2027 and the sources cite a $32 trillion infrastructure investment target for 2050.
Why it matters
The votes show that opposition to data center construction is strong at the local level, and that residents are willing to use ballot measures and recalls to act on it. Most measures passed, and officials who backed bans were removed in Piqua, Ohio and Yukon, Oklahoma. Developers and local governments now face a clearer signal from voters, even though the delays so far are small. Public opinion polling showing about 70% of Americans opposed to AI data center build-outs suggests the local results may not be isolated.
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