Voters in the U.S. midterm elections backed restrictions on data center development, according to early results reported by Tom’s Hardware, which cited Data Centers on the Ballot for 33 restricting measures won and six more leading (Tom’s Hardware). TechCrunch reported that the public voted on 41 data center-related ballot measures on Tuesday and that in all but one the majority voted to impose more restrictions (TechCrunch).
Key Facts
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Restricting measures won | 33 won, six more leading | Tom’s Hardware |
| Measure that failed | Harwood, North Dakota, an extra review process for industrial projects | Tom’s Hardware |
| TechCrunch count | 41 measures, majority for more restrictions in all but one | TechCrunch |
| Recalls | Mayor and two council members in Piqua, Ohio, and the mayor of Yukon, Oklahoma | Tom’s Hardware |
| Second tracker | 46 measures across 10 states | Tom’s Hardware |
Timeline
- 2026-11-04: Tom’s Hardware reported early results showing voters overwhelmingly backing data center restrictions (Tom’s Hardware).
- 2026-11-05: Amazon published an overview of its planned data center campus near Glen Rose in Somervell County, Texas (Amazon).
- 2026-11-06: TechCrunch reported that data centers were a major talking point even where they were not on the ballot (TechCrunch).
- 2026-11-06: Tom’s Hardware reported that about a hundred protesters overran a Microsoft data center construction site in Amsterdam (Tom’s Hardware).
Details (as Reported)
Tom’s Hardware noted that the measures vary, from permanent bans and moratoriums to time-limited actions and limits based on size or consumption (Tom’s Hardware). A second tracker showed every one of 33 measures to limit data centers set to pass, while 11 of 13 measures to permit them looked set to be defeated (Tom’s Hardware).
Out of the 300-plus local data center bans enacted across the U.S., only three developments totaling 2.3 gigawatts have been delayed, and 38 gigawatts are expected to come online by 2027, according to Tom’s Hardware (Tom’s Hardware). The outlet also reported that OpenAI and Anthropic are pursuing small data center projects of 20 to 30 megawatts as their hyperscale gigawatt sites face delays (Tom’s Hardware).
President Donald Trump has required AI data centers to pay an energy dividend to local communities and asked tech companies, state governors and utilities to sign a ratepayer protection pledge, Tom’s Hardware reported (Tom’s Hardware). TechCrunch reported that its Equity podcast discussed increased government scrutiny of Big Tech and that OpenAI is already trying to rebrand data centers (TechCrunch).
Amazon stated that its planned Somervell County campus would use outside air for cooling roughly 84% of the year and that it would pay the full cost of its energy (Amazon). In Europe, the Stop Dirty Data Centers coalition announced actions in 16 countries on November 6 and 7, 2026, and called for an immediate moratorium on large data centres (Tom’s Hardware).
What Is Not Yet Confirmed
- Tom’s Hardware reported that it is unclear whether the votes will affect projects already underway (Tom’s Hardware).
- Five measures had no posted results at the time of that report (Tom’s Hardware).