THE ESSENTIALS IN 30 SECONDS

  • Ballotpedia lists 41 data center measures on November 3 ballots in 10 states, and at least 50 across 13 states for all of 2026.
  • Ohio has 21 of the November 3 measures; according to Smart Cities Dive, 17 measures nationwide would prohibit data centers and 8 would enable them.
  • All six data center measures already decided this year went against development, per Ballotpedia.

The facilities that power large AI models are now a question for local voters. Ballotpedia's tracker, updated on October 30, lists 41 local measures related to data centers on the November 3, 2026 ballot, spread across 10 states. Counting earlier and later votes, the site tallies at least 50 such measures in 13 states this year.

Where and what

Ohio dominates, with 21 of the November 3 measures in 18 jurisdictions, according to Ballotpedia. Illinois has seven, Maine four and Kansas three, while California, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Wisconsin each have one. Smart Cities Dive, citing Ballotpedia, reports that 17 of the 41 would prohibit data center development and eight would allow local governments to permit it.

The measures vary widely. Some ask voters to ban data centers outright, as in Alhambra, California, and several Ohio towns. Others set limits by size, with a 25-megawatt threshold in places such as Ottawa, Kansas, and Defiance, Ohio. Janesville, Wisconsin, would require a public vote on developments above $450 million. Boulder City, Nevada, is an exception: its measure would open an area to data centers.

The count has grown in recent weeks. In September, Ballotpedia reported 38 measures in eight states, 34 of them on the November ballot, and Newsweek cited 35 November measures in early October. Measures in Maine, New Jersey and North Dakota have since been added, which explains why some outlets now report 10 states.

Why voters are weighing in

All six measures already decided in 2026 went against development, Ballotpedia notes, including a 90% vote in Augusta Township, Michigan, rejecting a rezoning for a proposed site. Newsweek points to concerns over grid demand, water, land use, tax breaks and possible pass-through costs to households, while supporters argue the facilities underpin AI ambitions and bring jobs and tax revenue. It also cites a Reuters/Ipsos poll in which 77% of respondents worried about higher electricity bills.

The issue extends beyond local ballots. Smart Cities Dive cites NPR's count of more than $45 million in political ads mentioning data centers from January to September, and notes that a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment to ban large data centers missed the deadline for this election; its backers plan to try again next year.