Voters approve all 21 local data center measures across Ohio

Voters in 18 communities approved 21 local ballot measures to restrict, regulate or reject data center development across Ohio, as anti-data center sentiment appears to have driven turnout in the Nov. 3 election.

The outcome is hardly a surprise, as a September Bowling Green State University poll of 1,000 likely Ohio voters found deep skepticism toward data centers: 75% opposed construction in their own communities, 63% opposed them anywhere in the state, and 78% supported a temporary ban until more information is available on effects.

The Licking County communities of Granville and Pataskala recorded some of the strongest margins on the data center question. More than 82% of Granville residents voted to ban data center construction in the city limits, while 73.6% of Pataskala residents voted for such a ban.

In Sunbury, voters approved a ban on data centers exceeding 25 megawatts by 78.6% — 2,809 yes votes to 763 no. Trenton backed Issue 17, with nearly identical language to Sunbury’s, by a 79.7% approval margin.

In rural areas, which have historically voted overwhelmingly Republican, voters considered ballot measures in 11 small municipalities, with some contests decided by relatively narrow margins.

In Urbana, a rural town of about 11,000 people in Champaign County, 77.3% approved one of the strictest ballot measures, prohibiting the construction of data centers that would use more than 7.5 megawatts of energy. In the rural towns of Upper Sandusky and Hubbard, both of which passed data center measures with about 76% approval, Democrats also made gains this cycle over the 2024 election.

Smaller but still decisive majorities appeared in Defiance at 64.7%, Conneaut at roughly 65%, Oregon at 60.69%, and Piqua at 66.7%.

Beyond bans, other measures were passed by residents who rejected specific developments.

In Ashville, about 82% of voters rejected a village agreement with EdgeConneX for two data centers. Grove City’s Issue 28, requiring voter approval for large projects using more than 20 megawatts or 500,000 gallons of water daily, passed by just 54.6% — the closest result.

Perry residents approved financial-guarantee requirements for tax-incentive projects by more than 87%. Wilmington voters rejected four separate rezoning proposals for a data-center project by roughly 80% each. Monroeville defeated an advisory question supporting data-center development by about 88%. Monroe and Sprigg townships in Adams County passed zoning measures that tighten regulation of such facilities.

Ohio, which held the largest share of data-center-related questions nationwide, saw Democrats flip roughly 15-18 major seats across statewide offices, Congress, and the legislature, with a few races still too close to call.

With slight variations across charter amendments, measures were largely based on model language that rejected behind-the-meter energy generation. Conserve Ohio, which supported many of the local efforts and is pursuing a statewide constitutional amendment, praised the outcomes as a clear signal from Ohio voters.