Voters Approve 40 of 41 Local Measures Restricting Data Centers

According to a Futurism report on 2026-11-10, drawing on reporting by The Washington Post, the 2026 midterm elections delivered a sweeping rejection of data center development across the United States. Of 41 ballot measures nationwide that sought to restrict data center development, voters approved 40. The measure described by the outlet as a crackdown on the industry thus passed almost everywhere it appeared on the ballot.

The single exception was Harwood, North Dakota, a town of 845 people, where residents voted 3 to 1 against a proposal that would have required large industrial projects to undergo additional review and public hearings. In doing so, Harwood became the only community in the country reported to have backed a new data center.

The facility at issue is described as a $3 billion, 1.8 million square foot project. Futurism reports that many Harwood residents shared the concerns voiced by voters elsewhere, citing noise, environmental impact, and the closed-door dealmaking that brought the project about. The outlet also quoted a resident of 40 years who said he only shifted to supporting the project after confirming that the $3 billion data center would not raise electricity prices, and that his position was not an endorsement of AI itself.

As of the latest material available, the reporting covers the midterm vote results and the Harwood case; no subsequent developments are documented.