KCRA’s Nov. 5 update said 47 measures related to data centers were scheduled for the Nov. 3, 2026, U.S. elections and described a strong tilt toward restrictions. The questions ranged from outright bans and a 180-day moratorium to limits on electricity or water use and added review. Route Fifty reported that some local votes were advisory; in Harwood, North Dakota, voters rejected an added-review amendment for future projects.
What local ballot measures asked
Communities voted on different proposals, including zoning changes, development-agreement approvals and city-charter restrictions. KCRA reported an 88.3% Restrict result in Morgan County, Illinois, out of 10,663 votes; in Sprigg Township, Ohio, the Restrict share was 52.6%.
Formal ballot measures capture a different part of local debate than public-meeting comments, the subject of NeoTeo’s earlier coverage of U.S. data-center opposition records.
Some votes were advisory
A restrictive vote did not always bind local officials. Route Fifty reported that some measures were advisory, while others concerned specific rules such as moratoria, utility limits or review requirements. Their legal effect depended on the measure’s terms.
Harwood rejected extra review for future projects
Harwood’s vote did not approve a named data-center project. Route Fifty reported that about 75% of 430 voters rejected an amendment that would have required independent review and a public hearing for certain large industrial projects. The amendment applied to future projects; Applied Digital’s already approved campus was outside its scope.
Joe Brettell’s comparison with fracking-era regulation
Joe Brettell, an energy-industry public-relations representative with Forward Energy Public Relations, compared the data-center debate with earlier disputes over hydraulic fracturing. He pointed to discussions between communities and oil companies about acceptable regulations, and argued that similar talks could shape rules for data centers.
