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TL;DR
A public tracker reported that the side favoring restrictions won or was leading in 46 of 47 local data center measures on November 3, 2026. The measures ranged from outright bans to advisory questions, and six results were still being counted as of November 5; all results remained unofficial.
Voters in 10 states weighed in on 47 local data center measures on November 3, and the side favoring restrictions had won or was leading in 46, according to the public tracker Data Centers on the Ballot. The results are unofficial, six counts were still underway as of November 5, and the questions varied widely—from citywide bans to temporary pauses and non-binding advice—so the tally does not represent 46 identical votes against proposed projects.
The tracker, built by polling and data firm Redbud Consulting, mapped differently worded questions to two outcomes: “Restrict” and “Allow.” At 12:30 p.m. Eastern on November 5, it listed results for all 47 measures, with 41 counts complete and six still being counted. The measures together had received 260,177 votes, of which 72.8% were on the Restrict side, the tracker reported. It said none of the results had been certified.
Some local results illustrate the range of outcomes. In Hubbard, Ohio, an unofficial count showed 2,622 votes for a ban on data centers of any size within city limits and 802 against. In Boulder City, Nevada, voters rejected a question allowing data centers on city-owned desert land, with 2,064 yes votes and 4,947 no votes in the unofficial count. Wilmington, Ohio, voters also voted to undo four council decisions that had rezoned rural land for data centers, according to the source report.
The source report says it checked seven results against official election sites in Kansas, Nevada, Florida and North Dakota; those results matched the tracker. For the remaining measures, including Ohio results, it relied on the tracker’s linked sources and local reporting. The Tribune Chronicle, for example, reported Hubbard’s ban passing by 76% to 24%. The report describes the figures as unofficial, and final certification remains outstanding.
Infographic 01 · Data centers on the ballot
Where “45 measures” comes from
One public tracker did the counting. Its numbers grew as results and late additions came in. We checked seven results against official election sites.
local ballot measures on data centers went against them on unofficial counts, 5 Nov 2026, 12:30 p.m. ET. The one exception: Harwood, North Dakota.
- 3 NovBallotpedia: 41 measuresListed before the vote · 10 states
- 4 Nov, 6:16 a.m.Tracker: 45 measures40 with results · 39 against data centers, 1 for
- 4 NovHeadlines: “45 measures”33 won, 6 leading, 1 lost, 5 not reported
- 5 Nov, 12:30 p.m.Tracker: 47 measuresAll with results · 46 against, 1 for · 6 still counting
- Emporia, KSban over 10 MW · Lyon County4,346 : 2,891
- Americus, KSban · Lyon County274 : 127
- El Dorado, KSten-year ban · Butler County2,972 : 1,183
- Ottawa, KSban over 25 MW · Franklin County2,882 : 1,129
- Edgewater, FLcharter ban · Volusia County7,875 : 2,328
- Boulder City, NVallow data centers? · Clark County2,064 : 4,947
- Harwood, NDreview rules · ND Secretary of State105 : 325
Yes : No, unofficial. All seven match the tracker to the vote.
- Ballotpedia lists 4 Maine measures, the tracker 8; Kansas 3 vs 4; New Jersey 1 vs 2. That is the gap from 41 to 47.
- The tracker added Belvidere (NJ) and Piqua (OH) after the first reports, so 45 became 47.
- 404 Media’s “40+ races in 13 states” also counts recalls and candidate races.
- Wilmington, Ohio alone accounts for 4 measures: one vote per rezoned parcel.
Sources: Data Centers on the Ballot (Redbud Consulting), 5 Nov 2026, 12:30 p.m. ET · Ballotpedia, 3 Nov 2026 · official results of Lyon, Butler and Franklin County (KS), Volusia County (FL), Clark County (NV), North Dakota Secretary of State. Nothing is certified yet.
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Local Approval Becomes a Siting Risk
The results show how local ballot rules can affect project approvals, even as demand grows for facilities used by cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Some measures would prohibit certain projects outright; others could require a public vote, limit facility size or temporarily pause development. For companies, the practical effect depends on the specific local law and whether it applies to a proposed site.
The source report frames the debate around water and energy use on one side and jobs and tax revenue on the other, citing polling by Gallup. Ballot language reviewed in the report also refers to capacity in megawatts and water use in gallons per day. Those concerns are not resolved by the overall tally: each community voted on its own question, and the tracker’s combined “Restrict” label groups distinct outcomes together.
Many of the measures concern future development rather than data center campuses already under construction, according to the source report. Still, a requirement for voter approval or a new zoning restriction could change the path to a site. Residents, local officials and developers will need to examine the exact ballot language and the legal status of each measure rather than treat the 46-of-47 figure as a single nationwide policy decision.
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Why the Measure Counts Differ
Early reports used different totals because trackers applied different definitions and updated at different times. Data Centers on the Ballot showed 45 measures on the morning after Election Day, with results for 40. It later added a non-binding question in Belvidere, New Jersey, and a charter amendment in Piqua, Ohio, bringing its count to 47. Ballotpedia listed 41 measures on Election Day, while a separate report cited more than 40 races across 13 states using a count that also included recalls and candidate contests.
The tracker’s total also differed from Ballotpedia’s state-by-state counts: it listed eight Maine town measures rather than four, four Kansas measures rather than three, and two New Jersey measures rather than one. The source report says the 47 entries include 37 binding measures and 10 advisory questions. Their subjects include bans, size caps—often 25 megawatts—moratoriums, rezoning referendums and rules requiring a public vote before some projects can proceed.
In its tracker, Redbud Consulting categorizes the outcome of each differently worded question as either “Restrict” or “Allow.” That makes it possible to summarize the races, but it does not mean every Restrict vote enacted a ban. A “yes” vote can have different consequences depending on whether the question changes a city charter, reverses a zoning decision, or simply asks residents for their views.
““Not all ‘no’ votes are equal.””
— Source report on the ballot measures
Certification and Legal Effects Pending
The results remain unofficial, and six counts were still underway as of November 5. The source report says it independently checked seven of the 47 results; it relied on the tracker and local reporting for the rest. Final totals could change during counting or certification, and the current tally should not be treated as a certified result.
The tracker’s broad category also leaves important local details out. The source material does not provide the full text and legal analysis of every measure, so it is not possible from the combined count alone to determine precisely which projects would be blocked, what exemptions apply, or when new rules take effect. The report notes that some measures are advisory and others binding, but their consequences depend on their wording and local law.
It is also unclear how the results will affect projects already planned, permitted or under construction. The source report says many votes target future projects, but does not establish the status of every affected site or whether any measure will face a legal challenge.
Final Counts and Local Implementation
Election offices must complete their remaining counts and certify the results. Until then, the tracker’s figures should be read as a November 5 snapshot, not a final statewide or national referendum on data centers.
After certification, local officials and project developers will need to interpret each measure on its own terms. The next practical questions include whether a vote changes zoning or a city charter, whether a restriction applies to projects already in the approval process, and whether a public vote is required for future proposals. The source material does not give a common implementation timetable across the 47 communities.
For residents following a particular project, the relevant next steps are the official certified result and any notices or actions from the city or county responsible for permitting. The tracker links to election sources for individual races, but the legal and planning consequences will be determined locally rather than by the combined 46-of-47 figure.
Key Questions
Did voters reject data centers in 46 places?
Not in one uniform sense. The tracker says the Restrict side won or was leading in 46 of 47 measures, but the questions included bans, zoning votes, temporary pauses, advisory questions and approval requirements.
Are the November 3 results final?
No. The figures reported as of November 5 were unofficial. Six counts were still underway, and the tracker said the results had not been certified.
Why did reports give different numbers of ballot measures?
Trackers used different counting rules and updated at different times. Data Centers on the Ballot increased its count from 45 to 47 after adding two measures; Ballotpedia listed 41, with differences in several states.
Does a Restrict vote always ban a data center?
No. Some measures proposed outright bans, while others involved size limits, moratoriums, zoning changes, advisory questions or a requirement for future voter approval. The legal effect depends on the local ballot language.
What happens to projects already under development?
The source report says many measures target future projects, but it does not establish the status of every project or how each local measure applies to facilities already planned, permitted or under construction. Those effects remain unclear pending local interpretation.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
