The race to build giant computer warehouses for artificial intelligence hit a new kind of roadblock on Election Day: the ballot box. In Tuesday’s midterms, voters in at least 29 local jurisdictions approved measures to ban or restrict data centers, according to a Washington Post count cited by International Business Times. Ohio led the way, with lopsided votes in small cities and towns across the state.
The results, still unofficial, show that the fight over where the AI industry puts its power-hungry buildings has moved from city council meetings to the voting booth.
What voters decided
Ballotpedia tracked 41 data center measures in 10 states on the Nov. 3 ballot. Of those, 28 proposed restrictions and 13 aimed to make development easier, IBTimes reported. The measures ranged from outright construction bans and temporary moratoriums to rules requiring extra voter approval. Some were advisory only.
Ohio had more such measures than any other state. Smart Cities Dive, citing Ballotpedia, reported before the election that Ohio had 21 of them. Local results reported by Columbus station 10TV included:
- Sunbury (Delaware County): A charter amendment passed with about 78.6%. It bars data centers above 25 megawatts of demand. Amazon had proposed a $2 billion data center there.
- Granville (Licking County): A charter amendment barring data centers passed with about 82.5%.
- Pataskala (Licking County): A ban passed with about 73.6%, after Aligned Data Centers proposed three buildings in the area.
- Ashville (Pickaway County): About 81.6% of voters rejected an EdgeConneX plan for two data center buildings.
- Grove City (Franklin County): Issue 28 passed with about 54.6%. It requires a public vote on very large developments, including those using more than 20 megawatts at peak or more than 500,000 gallons of water a day.
Citing Cleveland.com and Ballotpedia, IBTimes also reported strong margins for limits in Hubbard (about 76.6%) and Trenton (about 79%). 10TV said voters in several other counties, including Butler, Champaign, Defiance, Miami and Ashtabula, also turned down data center developments.
Amazon told 10TV it was disappointed with the result in Sunbury and will keep working with communities as it builds in Ohio and other states.
Why towns are pushing back
Data centers are huge buildings packed with computer servers. AI tools such as chatbots need enormous amounts of computing, so tech companies are racing to build more of them. They can use large amounts of electricity and water, and residents have raised concerns about noise, land use and their own utility bills.
One Sunbury-area resident, Larry Thode, told 10TV, “We want to limit the size so we can control the damage.”
Supporters of the industry argue that the buildings are needed for AI innovation, economic growth and national competitiveness, IBTimes noted. President Donald Trump has promoted rapid data center investment as part of his economic strategy. Opposition, the outlet reported, has come from both Republican and Democratic voters. Critics say local residents should not carry higher utility costs and environmental burdens without more say over where projects go.
The issue has also shown up in statewide races. IBTimes reported that governors-elect in Texas, Georgia and Ohio have called for pauses or tighter rules on large projects. The outlet noted that governors must work within existing laws and often need legislative support, so their positions do not automatically become statewide bans.
Tech companies have been trying to answer the power question. Recently, OpenAI pledged to cut data center power use when the grid is strained.
What it means for the AI buildout
Even before Tuesday, the industry was feeling local resistance. Citing S&P Global data reported by the Washington Post, IBTimes said more than 145 U.S. data center projects had been delayed or canceled by early August, mostly because of public opposition. Shares of several data center companies dipped slightly in premarket trading Wednesday, according to Reuters as cited by IBTimes.
Texas is a key state to watch. Research firm SemiAnalysis, cited by Axios, estimates Texas will account for 41% of new U.S. data center capacity expected in 2028.
Why it matters for families
If you live near a proposed data center, the decisions made now could affect your electric bill, your water supply, local jobs and tax revenue, and what your neighborhood looks and sounds like. Many of these projects are decided by local zoning boards, so the best way to stay informed is to watch your city or township meeting agendas and ask direct questions about power, water and noise. Residents in places like Pataskala have told reporters they want clear answers about whether electric rates will rise.
What to watch next
Results are unofficial until certified, and a few Ohio measures were still pending. A proposed Ohio constitutional amendment to ban data centers above 25 megawatts missed this year’s ballot deadline, and backers are aiming for next year, Smart Cities Dive reported. An analyst quoted by the outlet expects more state bills on data center policy in 2027. Upstormed News will follow how towns, states and tech companies respond.
For more on how Tuesday’s votes are reshaping the country, see what voters decided on other ballot measures.
Read more: Apple Opens Siri AI to App Developers in iOS 27.3 Beta
Would you want a large data center built in your town, or should voters get the final say?
Sources: International Business Times via Yahoo News, “America’s AI Boom Faces A New Obstacle. Voters Across The Country Move To Block Data Centers.” (November 4, 2026); 10TV via Yahoo News, “Ohio election results show voters overwhelmingly turn down data center developments” (November 4, 2026); Smart Cities Dive, “Data centers on more than 3 dozen local ballots” (October 29, 2026)
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