US Voters Reject 44 of 45 Data Center Ballot Measures

Voters across the U.S. overwhelmingly rejected AI data center ballot measures on Tuesday, with 44 of 45 communities voting to restrict or ban construction. Only one community voted to allow a data center project. The measures included outright bans, 180-day moratoriums, and limits on electricity or water usage. Ohio had 21 measures, followed by Maine with eight. The strongest restriction vote was in Morgan County, Illinois, at 88.3%, while the closest was in Sprigg Township, Ohio, at 52.6%. The lone approval was in Harwood, North Dakota, with 75.6% support. The results come amid a Democratic wave election, rebuking President Trump's pro-data center stance, which he argued would make communities "successful and rich" rather than "backwards and poor."