Voters rejected AI data centers in nearly every 2026 vote

Almost every community that voted on an AI data center this week said no. CNBC counted roughly 40 ballot measures across 10 states on Nov. 3. Only one, in Harwood, North Dakota, went the developers' way. Capital B News found 77% of voters with a measure on their ballot voted to restrict development. Data centers used to sail through local approval. Now they're a flashpoint at the ballot box.

The backlash didn't come from nowhere. AI data centers draw huge amounts of electricity and water. Neighbors have been complaining about noise and rising power bills for months. Some vote counts were still being finalized Wednesday, so the final tally may shift slightly. But the direction was unmistakable.

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Will this slow the AI boom nationally, or just push data centers into friendlier towns? Rejecting a ballot measure doesn't cancel a project — it just takes that specific site off the table. Companies can still build in states and counties that welcome them, and many will. But if voters keep saying no at this rate, the industry may have to change its approach. Local communities could become a real veto, not just a formality to clear before breaking ground.