Voters Reject Data Center Measures | JQJO

In the November 2026 midterm elections, voters across the United States overwhelmingly rejected measures that would allow new data centers to be built. The ballot included over forty proposals in ten states, many of which targeted large‑scale facilities that power artificial intelligence and other online services. In Ohio, fourteen municipalities passed bans or restrictions, while Maine’s eight towns enacted temporary moratoriums. Emporio, Kansas, also approved a ban on high‑impact data centers after a proposed 1,000‑acre project. The only exception was Hardwood, North Dakota, where a small city voted against a restriction bill. The results signal a growing bipartisan opposition to the industry’s expansion.