Voters reject most data-center ballot measures amid AI industry concerns

Voters in ten states rejected 40 of 41 local ballot measures that would have imposed new limits on data-center construction, according to Ballotpedia and a CNBC analysis released after Election Night. The sole measure that passed was in Harwood, North Dakota, where voters rejected a charter amendment that would have required additional review for industrial projects, including data centers.

In Ohio, 21 measures were on the ballot. The state, highlighted by CNBC as a leading business environment, is the site of the planned PORTS-Pike Technology Campus, a joint effort by OpenAI, SoftBank, SB Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. The campus is expected to begin construction this year, with phased capacity coming online from 2028 and a total projected cost exceeding $500 billion.

A CNBC voter poll found that 56 % of respondents said data-center issues were a “crucial or major” factor in their voting decisions, with higher concern among Democrats than Republicans. Democratic candidates who advocated for pausing or regulating new projects won races in Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia and Texas.

Following the results, Rep. Greg Casar, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called for AI executives to testify under oath, stating that the House Democratic majority should prioritize protecting jobs and public interests from AI-related influences.

The outcomes suggest that local opposition to data-center expansion could pose challenges for the AI industry’s growth plans in the United States.