Data centers faced a significant rebuke at the ballot box during the recent US midterm elections, with voters across the country overwhelmingly supporting measures to limit or halt their construction. Out of 47 local elections featuring ballot initiatives related to data center expansion, residents favored restrictions in 38 of the completed counts, with pro-restriction voters leading in six of the eight remaining races.
These local victories for data center opponents manifested in various forms. In ten elections, voters approved adding megawatt caps to their city or town charters, typically setting limits at 25 MW, a stark contrast to the thousands of megawatts planned for facilities like the one OpenAI is developing in Georgia. Another ten races saw voters express a preference for restriction through non-binding advisory questions posed by local councils.
Furthermore, seven completed races involved voters rejecting rezoning measures that would have permitted data center construction. In five other races, outright bans on new data center construction were approved, with similar bans leading in partially reported counts. Measures requiring voter approval for new data center projects also saw success, either passing or leading in two races.
Other approved restrictions included temporary moratoriums and additional conditions on data center tax benefits. The only notable exception to this trend occurred in Harwood, North Dakota, where voters rejected an amendment that would have mandated an independent review before new data center construction or expansion could be approved.
This widespread voter sentiment against unchecked data center growth appears to be fueled by concerns over environmental impact, energy costs, and noise pollution. Exit polls indicated that a significant portion of midterm voters considered AI data centers a major factor in their electoral decisions.