Data center-related ballot measures, 2026

Data center-related ballot measures, 2026

Measures in 2026

2026 state measures

2026 local measures

State ballot measures

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In 2026, voters will decide on at least five local ballot measures related to data centers in four states: California, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

A data center is a physical facility that houses computer systems and related equipment used to store, manage, process, and transmit digital information. Data centers typically contain rows of computer servers, data storage systems, and networking equipment, along with the power and cooling infrastructure needed to operate them.

Data centers vary in size and type. A large, warehouse-sized facility is known as a hyperscale data center. According to the Congressional Research Service, increasing demand for data storage and computing power, particularly for AI, has driven the construction of hyperscale data centers.

List of ballot measures

In 2026, voters will decide on at least five ballot measures related to data centers, including:

• one to allow for data center development, and
• four to limit, prohibit, or create additional steps for data center development.

The following ballot measure would allow data center development:

Jurisdiction	State	Type	Title	Description
Boulder City	NV	Referral	Question 1	Allow data centers within the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area

The following four ballot measures would prohibit data center development or create additional steps, such as voter approval, before certain data center projects could be developed:

Jurisdiction	State	Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
Monterey Park	CA	Referral	Measure NDC	Amend the city's land use element to prohibit data centers		0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Augusta (Washtenaw County)	MI	Referendum	Rezone Agricultural Residential to General Industrial for Data Center Referendum	Uphold Ordinance No. 2025-02, rezoning properties for a proposed data center		0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Janesville	WI	Initiative	Require Voter Approval for Development of GM/JATCO Site Exceeding $450 Million Initiative	Require voter approval before the city may lease, sell, transfer, or approve development of the undeveloped GM/JATCO site if the total project costs exceed $450 million		0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Port Washington	WI	Initiative	Require Voter Approval for Tax Incremental Districts Exceeding $10 Million Initiative	Require voter approval before the city may create, adopt, or approve a Tax Incremental District (TID) if the district has a projected base value of $10 million or more or projected project costs exceeding $10 million.	a	2,710 (66%)	1,371 (34%)

List of potential ballot measures

As of April 7, 2026, Ballotpedia was tracking the following potential local ballot measures related to data centers:

State

• Ohio: The ballot initiative would prohibit the construction of data centers that are used for digital data processing with an aggregate power demand exceeding 25 megawatts. Attorney General Dave Yost (R) approved the ballot initiative for signature gathering on March 26, 2026. The campaign, Ohio Residents for Responsible Development, must collect 413,487 valid signatures by July 1, 2026.

Local

• Marana, Arizona: On February 4, 2026, the town clerk confirmed that Arizonans for Responsible Development submitted about 2,800 signatures for a referendum on the town's rezoning ordinance allowing a 600-acre data center campus. The town clerk said the submitted signatures were invalid because the petitions did not include the legal descriptions of the properties. On February 17, Arizonans for Responsible Development submitted a request to withdraw the petitions, but the town clerk rejected the request. Marana Citizens for Ethical and Transparent Government filed a lawsuit challenging the town’s decision to reject the petitions, while Fremont Peak Properties LLC filed a lawsuit challenging the town’s decision not to allow the petitions to be withdrawn.

• Frederick County, Maryland: The Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee filed a referendum against an ordinance that rezoned 838 acres for data center use and created a 2,615-acre data center overlay zone near Adamstown. The campaign had until March 20 to collect 15,611 valid signatures. On March 19, the committee submitted 24,053 signatures to the Board of Elections. On April 3, the Frederick County Board of Elections determined that supporters had submitted enough valid signatures to move forward, reporting that 21,029 of the 24,053 signatures were valid. The next step is for the County Council to vote on whether to place the ballot question on the general election ballot or hold a special election.

• Wilmington, Ohio: Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development filed a referendum to overturn the rezoning of four parcels from rural residential to light industrial for a proposed $6 billion data center. On March 20, the campaign filed 1,529 signatures. At least 1,122 valid signatures are required, equal to 35% of the number of voters who cast ballots in the most recent gubernatorial election.

Proposed measures that did not make the ballot

Ballotpedia tracked the following proposed local ballot measures related to data centers that did not make the ballot:

• Mason, Michigan: Supporters of a referendum submitted 700 signatures to overturn the city’s ordinance regulating potential data center development, arguing that the ordinance was not adequate. On March 16, 2026, the Mason City Council voted 4-2 to repeal the targeted ordinance, rather than sending the referendum to the ballot. Mayor Russell Whipple, who voted to repeal the ordinance, said, "We can turn around and re-enact it at the next meeting. Or we could re-enact another ordinance that's different. There would be no issues with that. If we wait for the vote, then we wouldn't be able to do anything for the next five months because it would be suspended."

• Independence, Missouri: On March 3, 2026, opponents of a tax incentive ordinance for a proposed data center filed a referendum petition to challenge the law. On March 5, a government spokesperson said the city's charter "does not permit a referendum on this specific matter, and approving a petition for circulation would be in violation of the Charter." Supporters of the referendum filed litigation against City Clerk Susanne Holland, saying officials could not block the referendum effort. On March 25, Judge Jennifer Phillips ruled that the ordinance was not subject to a referendum.

• Joplin, Missouri: The Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance proposed referendums targeting the annexation and rezoning of part of Wildwood Ranch for industrial use to allow data center development. Supporters of a referendum submitted about 2,800 signatures for the referendums; about 5,000 were required.

See also

• Local ballot measure elections in 2026
• Local zoning and land use ballot measures

Footnotes

Local ballot measures

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