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TL;DR
A tracker listed 47 local data center measures across 10 states on the November 3, 2026, ballot. As of November 5, unofficial results showed the restrictive side winning or leading in 46, but the measures ranged from outright bans to advisory questions and temporary pauses. The results are not certified, and a review of seven official election-site tallies matched the tracker.
Unofficial results from 47 local data center measures on the November 3 ballot show voters favoring restrictions in 46 of them, according to the Data Centers on the Ballot tracker. The votes matter for proposed facilities and local land-use rules, but they did not all ask the same question: some would ban projects, while others addressed zoning, temporary pauses or advisory preferences.
The tracker, maintained by polling and data firm Redbud Consulting, covered measures in 10 states. As of 12:30 p.m. Eastern on November 5, it listed results for all 47 measures, with 41 election-night counts complete and six still being counted. The tracker said all results were unofficial. Its tally totaled 260,177 votes, 72.8% of them on the side it labels “Restrict.” That aggregate combines votes on differently worded measures, so it is not a single statewide or national referendum.
In Hubbard, Ohio, voters were asked whether to ban data centers of any size within city limits. The unofficial tally was 2,622 in favor and 802 opposed, or 76.6% for the ban. In Wilmington, Ohio, voters reversed four city council decisions that had rezoned rural land for data centers. In Boulder City, Nevada, voters rejected a proposal to open city-owned desert land to data center development, with 2,064 votes in favor and 4,947 against, according to the unofficial Clark County result.
The tracker’s sole exception was Harwood, North Dakota, where the measure concerned review rules for large projects. The North Dakota secretary of state’s unofficial result showed 105 votes for it and 325 against. The source report says it checked seven results against official election sites in Kansas, Nevada, Florida and North Dakota; all seven matched the tracker. For the other results, including Ohio, it relied on tracker links to county sources and local reporting where available.
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 Set Project Limits
The results point to a potential local approval risk for companies seeking sites, power access and land-use permission. A measure may directly block a proposed facility, set a size limit or require voters to approve certain projects before they proceed. In some towns, future data center proposals may face a public vote rather than being decided solely through council or planning-board processes.
The practical effect depends on each measure’s wording and legal status. The tracker classifies 37 measures as binding and 10 as advisory. Binding measures can change local rules or decisions, while advisory questions record voter views without themselves imposing the same legal requirements. The numbers therefore show widespread opposition among voters who took part in these measures, but do not establish that every locality adopted an enforceable ban.
The debate also reflects competing local priorities. The source report cites Gallup polling in which opponents named water and energy use, while supporters pointed to jobs and tax revenue. Ballot language sometimes addressed these concerns through limits measured in megawatts or gallons of water per day. The results may shape negotiations over infrastructure and economic benefits, though the votes alone do not show what any particular project would consume or contribute.
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Why the Measure Count Changed
Early election coverage cited 45 measures, matching the tracker’s count on the morning of November 4. At 6:16 a.m. Eastern that day, it showed 40 measures with results and five without posted results. The tracker later added a nonbinding question in Belvidere, New Jersey, and a charter amendment in Piqua, Ohio, bringing its total to 47.
Other tallies used different definitions. Ballotpedia listed 41 measures in 10 states before the election. The source report says the difference reflects varying counts in Maine, Kansas and New Jersey. A separate report described “40+ races across 13 states,” a broader tally that also included recalls and candidate races. These counts are not necessarily contradictory; they depend on what is included and how a data center measure is defined.
Nor does “voters rejected data centers” describe a single ballot outcome. Measures included outright bans, size caps, moratoriums, rezoning referendums, rules requiring public approval and advisory questions. Some targeted proposed or future development rather than campuses already under construction. Their scope and effect must be read from the local ballot text and governing rules.
“The tracker labels the two sides “Restrict” and “Allow.””
— Data Centers on the Ballot, maintained by Redbud Consulting
Certification and Legal Effects Remain
No result was certified as of November 5, according to the tracker, and six counts were still in progress. Unofficial tallies can change before certification. The seven-source-site check provides corroboration for those specific races, not independent verification of all 47.
The source report does not establish the legal outcome or implementation schedule for every measure. The precise effect of a vote depends on its ballot language, whether it is binding, and any applicable local procedures. It is also not clear from the available material how many projects already under construction could be affected, or whether any proposed facility will challenge or seek exceptions to a new restriction.
The tracker’s combined percentage should be read with care: it aggregates votes on measures with different wording and effects. It does not mean that 72.8% of voters in the 10 states supported one identical policy, nor does the 46-of-47 figure indicate the share of all residents who oppose data centers.
Certification Comes Before Implementation
The next step is for election authorities to finish counting outstanding ballots and certify results under their local schedules. Until then, the tracker’s figures remain unofficial. Cities and counties will then need to apply any adopted measures according to their wording and legal status.
For residents and developers, the practical follow-up is local: check the certified result, the final ballot language and any implementation rules for the specific jurisdiction. The available source material does not identify a single next hearing or deadline that applies to all 47 measures, so further developments will vary by community.
Key Questions
Did voters reject data centers in 46 places?
Not exactly. The tracker showed the restrictive side winning or leading in 46 of 47 measures, but the measures covered different policies, including bans, zoning decisions, temporary pauses and advisory questions.
Are the November 3 results final?
No. As of November 5, the results were unofficial; six counts were still in progress, and none had been certified according to the tracker.
Which measure was the exception?
Harwood, North Dakota, was the tracker’s exception. Its unofficial result showed 105 votes for and 325 against a measure concerning review rules for large projects.
Do all the measures create binding restrictions?
No. The tracker classifies 37 as binding and 10 as advisory. The legal effect depends on each measure’s wording and the rules in that locality.
Why did reports give different totals for the number of measures?
Trackers used different definitions and counted some states differently. The source report says the 45-measure figure was an earlier tracker count; two measures were added later, while Ballotpedia listed 41 using a different tally.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
