Voters Restrict Data Centers in 40 of 41 Measures

Majority votes in the 2026 midterms imposed additional limits on data center development across most ballot measures.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Data Centers

Voters Restrict Data Centers in 40 of 41 Measures

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Should your community place more restrictions on new data center development?

On November 3, 2026, voters decided 41 data center-related ballot measures in the midterm elections, and a majority approved more restrictions on development in 40 of them. Data centers were also a major campaign topic in races where they did not appear on the ballot.

Why it matters

The results signal growing public resistance to data center expansion across the country. Newly elected Democratic governors and congressmembers are likely to support additional regulation, which could shape how the industry is built and operated.

Voters decided 41 data center-related ballot measures, with restrictions approved in 40 of them by majority vote. The extraction does not specify the technical or operational terms of the restrictions or their individual vote margins.

The players

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The details

Voters decided the ballot measures by majority vote, and data centers were a central issue in midterm campaigns. Even in races where data centers were not on the ballot, the topic was widely raised by candidates.

November 3, 2026: Midterm elections held and data center ballot measures voted on.
November 6, 2026: Analysis of the election results and their implications for the tech industry published.

Tech Race

The 2026 ballot results extend the trend of local resistance to data center siting by bringing it into statewide and national elections. This marks a shift from zoning disputes to voter-driven policy that could constrain the AI infrastructure buildout.

Restrictions on data center development may affect the availability and cost of cloud and AI services that depend on new capacity. Residents near proposed sites may also see changes in local zoning and utility planning as new rules take effect.

The takeaway

Ballot outcomes like these show that data center policy is now a voter-level issue, not only a matter for zoning boards and utilities. Readers following infrastructure and AI costs should watch how newly elected officials translate these results into regulation.