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TL;DR
An unofficial tracker lists 47 local data-center measures across 10 states on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. As of Nov. 5, measures classified as restrictive had won or were leading in 46; six counts were still underway, and none of the results was certified. The measures ranged from bans and rezoning votes to temporary pauses and advisory questions.
Local voters in 10 states backed or were leading toward data-center restrictions in 46 of 47 ballot measures from the Nov. 3, 2026, election, according to the Data Centers on the Ballot tracker. The results are unofficial, six counts remain underway, and the measures asked voters to decide different things — from outright bans to zoning changes and advisory questions — rather than a single nationwide policy on AI infrastructure.
The tracker, maintained by Redbud Consulting, listed all 47 measures with results by 12:30 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 5. It classified the restrictive outcome as leading or winning in 46 places; Harwood, North Dakota, was the exception. Of the 47 counts, 41 were marked complete for election night and six were still counting. The tracker says its results have not been certified.
The tally of 260,177 votes across the measures included 72.8% on the side the tracker labels “Restrict.” That combined figure is the tracker’s grouping of unlike questions, not a vote on one common proposal. The tracker’s categories map differently worded measures to “Restrict” or “Allow,” so the total does not show that every voter opposed every type of data center.
Some results checked by the source author against official election pages illustrate the range. In Hubbard, Ohio, an all-sizes city-limit ban received 2,622 yes votes and 802 no votes, an unofficial 76.6% in favor. In Boulder City, Nevada, voters rejected a proposal to allow data centers on city-owned desert land, with 2,064 yes votes and 4,947 no votes. The author said seven results were checked against official election sites and matched the tracker; the other results were not all independently verified. The Tribune Chronicle also reported Hubbard’s ban passed 76% to 24%.
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 Project Risk
The results point to local consent as a potential obstacle for companies seeking sites, land-use changes or public agreements for data centers. In some communities, voters approved restrictions that could affect future proposals; in others, they voted on a specific parcel or required a public decision before certain projects can proceed.
The ballot questions reflect concerns and trade-offs at the local level. The source material says opponents in Gallup polling commonly cite water and energy use, while supporters cite jobs and tax revenue. The measures themselves sometimes specify project scale in megawatts or water use in gallons per day. The results show political resistance in many of these votes, but do not establish that all communities oppose data centers or that every measure will have the same practical effect.
For residents, the legal effect depends on the wording and status of each measure. Some decisions are binding; others are advisory and do not themselves change local law. A local vote can shape the path for a proposed development, but the tracker’s combined count alone cannot show what projects will be built, delayed or abandoned.
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One Election, Different Ballot Questions
Early reports cited 45 measures, reflecting the tracker’s count on the morning of Nov. 4. It then added two measures: an advisory question in Belvidere, New Jersey, and a charter amendment in Piqua, Ohio. Ballotpedia listed 41 measures before the election, using a different count. The source material says differences include the number of Maine town measures, Kansas measures and New Jersey measures included by each tally.
The tracker counts ballot questions specifically about data centers, including bans, size caps, moratoriums, zoning referendums, developer agreements and voter-approval rules. The source material divides the 47 measures into 37 binding questions and 10 advisory ones. A binding measure can directly change a rule or decision; an advisory question records voter sentiment but does not itself enact a change.
That distinction matters when describing the outcome. A “no” vote on allowing a data center on a particular city-owned site is not the same as a citywide ban, and an advisory result is not the same as a binding prohibition. The 46-of-47 figure is best read as a tracker-defined summary of election outcomes, not as 46 identical bans.
Certification and Local Effects Pending
No results were certified as of the tracker’s Nov. 5 update, and six counts were still underway. The final margins may change as remaining ballots are counted and local election authorities complete their processes. The source author independently checked seven results, not all 47; for other races, the account relied on the tracker’s linked sources and local reporting where available.
The practical and legal effects also vary by ballot text. The supplied source material does not provide complete details for every measure, including the full terms of all bans, exemptions, caps or moratoriums. It is not yet clear from the reported tally which proposed developments will be affected, how local governments will implement each result, or whether any measures will face legal challenges.
Final Counts and Local Implementation
Election officials will continue counting in the six races still underway and publish certified results through their usual processes. The tracker’s current figures should be treated as provisional until those authorities finish their work.
After certification, local governments and project developers will need to assess the exact legal effect of each binding measure, including any approval requirements, land-use changes or restrictions. Advisory votes may inform later decisions without changing rules on their own. The next clearer picture will come from final local counts and any official steps taken to apply the measures.
Key Questions
What did voters decide about data centers?
Across 47 local measures in 10 states, the tracker classified the restrictive outcome as winning or leading in 46 as of Nov. 5, 2026. The questions differed and included bans, zoning votes, pauses and advisory measures.
Are the results final?
No. The tracker described the results as unofficial; six counts were still underway, and none was certified as of its Nov. 5 update.
Did voters approve 46 data-center bans?
No. The 46-of-47 tally includes different types of measures. Some were bans, while others concerned a specific site, rezoning, a temporary moratorium, approval rules or an advisory question.
Where was the exception to the restrictive trend?
Harwood, North Dakota, was the one measure where the tracker did not show the restrictive side ahead. Its unofficial result was 105 yes votes to 325 no votes on a measure about review rules for large projects.
What happens after the election?
Local officials will complete counting and certification, then determine how binding measures apply. The effect of each result depends on the specific ballot wording; advisory questions do not themselves enact a rule.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
