🔍 Read the full analysis: Why Communities Voted Against Data Centers In 46 Of 47 Cases on ThorstenMeyerAI.com
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TL;DR
A tracker of local measures on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot says voters favored restricting data centers in 46 of 47 cases, based on unofficial counts as of Nov. 5. The measures ranged from outright bans to temporary pauses and advisory questions, so the tally does not mean 46 communities enacted the same policy or rejected every data center project.
Voters favored restricting data centers in 46 of 47 local measures on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to the Data Centers on the Ballot tracker, but the results remain unofficial and the questions varied widely. The measures in 10 states included outright bans, zoning decisions, temporary moratoriums and advisory questions, meaning the tally is not a count of 46 identical bans or a single statewide verdict on data centers.
The tracker, built by polling and data firm Redbud Consulting, reported that the restriction side won or led in 46 measures as of 12:30 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 5. It listed 47 measures in 10 states, with 41 election-night counts complete and six still being counted. All results were described as unofficial; none had been certified at the time of the report.
The tracker groups differently worded outcomes into two categories, Restrict and Allow. Its figures add up to 260,177 votes, 72.8% of them on the Restrict side. That combined percentage is the tracker’s aggregation across varied ballot questions, not a national poll or a measure of support for one specific policy.
Examples show the range. Hubbard, Ohio, asked whether data centers of any size should be banned within city limits; its unofficial result was 2,622 yes to 802 no, or 76.6% in favor of the ban. Boulder City, Nevada, asked whether city-owned desert land should be opened to data centers; voters rejected that proposal, 4,947 to 2,064, according to the Clark County count cited by the source. In Harwood, North Dakota, a measure to review rules for large projects was the exception: it received 105 yes votes and 325 no votes.
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 Votes Shape Data Center Siting
The results point to a potential local approval hurdle for companies planning new facilities. A vote can change zoning, cap project size, impose a pause or require residents to approve a proposal before it proceeds. For developers, the outcome may affect whether a site is available and how much time and negotiation a project requires.
The vote tally also reflects competing concerns rather than one uniform reason for opposition. The source reports that polling by Gallup found opponents naming water and energy use, while supporters cited jobs and tax revenue. Ballot language in some places addressed megawatt capacity or water use directly, but the results alone do not establish why each voter chose a particular side.
Many of the measures target future projects, not data centers already under construction. Their practical effect depends on the exact wording, whether a measure is binding, and how local authorities apply it. A strong aggregate result therefore signals political resistance in many places, but does not by itself determine the fate of every proposed facility.
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How the 47-Measure Count Changed
The widely reported figure of 45 measures came from an earlier version of the Redbud Consulting tracker. At 6:16 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 4, it listed 45 measures, with results posted for 40: restriction leads in 39, allowance leads in one, and five lacked posted results. The tracker later added a non-binding question in Belvidere, New Jersey, and a charter amendment in Piqua, Ohio, bringing its total to 47.
Other counts differ because organizations used different inclusion rules. Ballotpedia listed 41 measures in 10 states before the election, counting four Maine measures rather than the tracker’s eight, three in Kansas rather than four, and one in New Jersey rather than two. The source also notes that a separate report’s count of “40+ races across 13 states” included recalls and candidate races, not only data-center ballot questions.
The source author said seven results were checked against official election sites in Kansas, Nevada, Florida and North Dakota, and that all seven matched the tracker. For the remaining measures, including those in Ohio, the author relied on tracker links to county sources and available local reporting. The Tribune Chronicle, for example, reported Hubbard’s ban passing 76% to 24%.
““Nothing on the page is certified.””
— Data Centers on the Ballot tracker
Certification and Policy Effects Remain Open
The totals were unofficial as of Nov. 5, and six counts were still being tallied. The final certified totals could differ. The tracker’s 46-of-47 summary also depends on how measures are classified: its Restrict category combines questions with materially different effects, while 10 of the 47 measures were advisory rather than binding.
The full set of 47 results was not independently verified by the source author. Seven were checked against official election sites; the remaining results were taken from the tracker and, where available, local reporting. It is also not clear from the aggregate tally how many measures will directly stop a proposed facility, affect a project already in a planning process, or mainly express voter sentiment.
Final Counts and Local Implementation
Election officials must complete and certify the results before the counts are final. Communities will then need to apply each measure according to its wording, including determining which proposals it covers and whether additional local action is required.
For companies considering sites in the affected areas, the next steps may include reviewing local rules, pursuing approvals or negotiating with residents and officials. The source does not identify a single next date or national policy change; the immediate developments to watch are certified results and how each community implements its own vote.
Key Questions
Did voters ban data centers in 46 communities?
No. The tracker says the restriction side won or led in 46 of 47 measures, but the measures included bans, size limits, moratoriums, zoning votes and advisory questions. Not all were binding bans.
Are the results final?
No. The tracker described all results as unofficial as of Nov. 5, 2026. Six counts were still being tallied, and certification had not yet occurred.
Which measure was the exception?
Harwood, North Dakota, was the one measure where the restriction side did not lead. The source reports 105 votes for its review rules for large projects and 325 against.
Why do reports give different numbers of measures?
Trackers and election summaries used different definitions of what counted as a data-center measure. The source says Ballotpedia listed 41, while the Redbud Consulting tracker later listed 47 after adding measures, including questions in Maine, Kansas and New Jersey.
What concerns did voters raise about data centers?
The source’s summary of Gallup polling says opponents cited water and energy, while supporters pointed to jobs and tax revenue. The ballot results do not establish the reason behind each individual vote.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
