According to Ballotpedia, voters in dozens of localities across 10 states will cast ballots on November 3 regarding 41 measures related to data centers. Of these initiatives, 17 propose prohibiting data center development, while eight aim to empower local governments to permit such projects. In the broader context of 2026, at least 49 local ballot measures concerning data centers have appeared or are scheduled to appear across 13 states. All six measures decided so far this year have resulted in limits on development. Additionally, voters in Clarksville, Arkansas, are set to decide on December 1 whether to authorize bonds tied to specific data center projects.
Ohio represents a significant portion of these initiatives, hosting 21 of the November 3 ballot measures. The state is currently one of the fastest-growing hubs for data center investment, housing 257 facilities. Within Ohio's local measures, 11 ask voters to prohibit data centers entirely, while six call for zoning changes related to their development. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, at least 138 municipalities and townships in the state have already placed moratoriums on data center development, and 23 communities have effectively banned them. A separate grassroots effort to amend the Ohio constitution to prohibit data centers with a peak load exceeding 25 megawatts per month missed the deadline for the November 3 ballot, though backers are working to include it next year.
Experts suggest the surge in local initiatives reflects community responses to rapid industry expansion driven by artificial intelligence demand. Ishyan Veluppillai, who tracks data center policy at investment advisor group Capstone, noted that communities are using these tools to regulate projects announced in their backyards. This sentiment has made data centers a central issue in midterm elections, with over $45 million spent on political ads mentioning the sector between January and September, according to NPR. Marketing Brew reported that spending on such ads increased by 61% month-over-month in September.
Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings Metro, described the situation as a "mutiny" against how the technology is being introduced, citing concerns over electricity costs, water usage, and a lack of public say in AI rollout. Looking ahead, Veluppillai anticipates that the momentum for community involvement will continue regardless of next week's results. He predicts that state officials may respond by granting more autonomy to cities and counties over data center policy, with new legislation likely to be introduced during pre-filing windows for the 2027 state sessions once election outcomes are clear.
Sources: Smart Cities Dive.