{"id":2237564,"date":"2026-11-04T18:22:10","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T15:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2237564"},"modified":"2026-11-04T18:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T15:22:10","slug":"dozens-of-new-data-center-laws-were-decided-by-voters-see-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2237564","title":{"rendered":"Dozens of new data center laws were decided by voters. See the list."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Home<\/a>><\/span>Tech<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Voters approved more than 40 measures to slow or ban data center growth<\/h1>\n
Americans made their voices heard on the divisive issue.<\/div>\n
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\n \u00a0By\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chase DiBenedetto<\/a><\/p>\n
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\"Chase<\/p>\n
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Chase DiBenedetto<\/div>\n
Social Good Reporter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n Chase joined Mashable’s Social Good team in 2020, covering online stories about digital activism, climate justice, accessibility, and media representation. Her work also captures how these conversations manifest in politics, popular culture, and fandom. Sometimes she’s very funny.\n <\/div>\n

Read Full Bio<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0on\u00a0

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\"A<\/p>\n
Voters in dozens of jurisdictions voted to halt data center construction. <\/span>Credit: Jon Cherry \/ Stringer \/ Getty Images News via Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Table of Contents<\/h2>\n

Results are still streaming in from what is already a history-making midterm election cycle<\/a>, but there is at least one clear outcome: Americans are fed up with AI data centers. <\/p>\n

Data centers have become a leading issue in local politics over the last year. In 2026, at least 50 local ballot measures<\/a> related to data center permits, construction, or regulation were proposed in state legislatures. Forty-one of these measures were voted on during the Nov. 3 midterm election.<\/p>\n

Voters in around 30 jurisdictions across the U.S. passed legislation to keep data centers out of their communities, the Washington Post<\/em><\/a> reported based on early return data. At least another six voted to ban future construction and halt planned projects<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Younger generations, including Gen Z political advocacy organization Voters of Tomorrow, have rallied around the pro-climate, anti-Big Tech campaigns<\/a> of many Democratic candidates.<\/a><\/p>\n

According to an NBC exit poll, 67 percent of Democratic voters<\/a> said AI data centers were a crucial factor in their down-the-ballot voting. Around 63 percent of Democrats said they would oppose construction of data centers in their communities. A national poll from Pew Research Center in September found that only 4 percent of Americans<\/a> believed data centers had positive effects for their area. <\/p>\n

What kinds of measures were on the ballot?<\/h2>\n

Ohio had 21 data center-related ballot measures<\/a>, the most of any state. Thirteen municipalities approved outright bans on data centers, Forbes<\/em> reported. Several voted on proposed zoning regulations and\/or on the future of existing construction projects. <\/p>\n

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Other state ballots featured similar proposed legislation, ranging from multi-year moratoriums on data centers to new processes for securing citizen approval for data centers. Three towns in Kansas singled out “high impact” and “utility-intensive” data centers, while one town in Maine voted on size limitations to data center projects.<\/p>\n

Which states banned or restricted data centers?<\/h2>\n
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    California<\/strong> – Residents in Alhambra voted to ban data centers in the LA suburb.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Florida<\/strong> – Voters in Edgewater passed a charter amendment barring new centers and limiting the expansion of existing projects. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Illinois<\/strong> – A majority of voters in five townships voted “No” on measures asking if they support future data center construction and permitting. Voters in Bloomington voted “Yes” on a data center moratorium. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Kansas<\/strong> – Voters in El Dorado passed a 10-year ban on “high impact” centers, which will impact facilities using more than 100,000 gallons of water per day. It’s one of the strictest data center legislations passed this election cycle. Three others Kansas cities passed high impact center bans. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Maine<\/strong> – At least three towns passed 180-day moratoriums on data centers. One town, Wiscasset, passed a six-month moratorium. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    New Jersey <\/strong>– A majority of voters in Downe Township said they don’t support data center development. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Nevada<\/strong> – Boulder City residents rejected data center permits in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Ohio<\/strong> – At least 14 municipalities passed bans or restrictions on future data center projects. Another six rejected proposals to uphold rezoning for data centers. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Wisconsin<\/strong> – Janesville residents voted “Yes” to require a public vote before approving a data center project that would cost anywhere from $450 million to $8 billion. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    So the 41 datacenter moratoria across the country are, I predict, going to go 41-0. In nearly every case it's about 67-80% opposing datacenters. True in California, Ohio, everywhere. Read all the results here:https:\/\/t.co\/JujgCAXAoM<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Brad Carson (@bradrcarson) November 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n