Constitutional amendment to ban data centers in Ohio won’t appear on the 2026 ballot, but activists will resume activity in 2027

Activists who were collecting signatures for the constitutional amendment that would’ve banned all data centers in Ohio failed to collect enough signatures before the July 1 deadline to appear on the 2026 ballot, but they said they would try for the 2027 ballot.

“We want to thank everyone who has been tirelessly gathering signatures over the past 10 weeks. It feels like it’s been a mad dash since the beginning, and we sincerely appreciate everyone’s effort and motivation so far,” Conserve Ohio wrote in a statement. “Ohioans are continuing to prove how amazing we are, and one of the very best parts of this shared effort is just that: sharing. Things feel lighter when we realize we aren’t alone.”

The group then acknowledged that the confusion about the July 1 deadline was their fault, adding that they “should have explained it better.”

“The July 1st deadline was our best-case scenario for the quickest possible action. Internally, we set that as our ideal target, and it just didn’t pan out. We are not going to be submitting this year,” the group wrote.

Conserve Ohio also told Ohioans who want to abolish the data centers that they should not lose hope, even though the amendment won’t appear on the upcoming November ballot.

“In 10 weeks, we’ve done more than most grassroots movements achieve in a year. Our momentum is only growing. We can’t change when we began, but we can determine how it ends,” the group wrote. “All is not lost. In fact, the signatures we have gathered NEVER expire. The end goal has not changed. Our resolve has not changed.”

Conserve Ohio wrote that they will not be stopping their efforts, adding that they were able to gather “over 70,000 signatures, and more than 1,000 Ohioans have stepped up to volunteer.”

“Based on our progress so far, we feel confident in making the deadline for the 2027 general election. And we will continue to grow the right way: with each other, for each other, bipartisan, real. As always, this started with ordinary people, and it will end with ordinary people,” the group wrote.

Conserve Ohio also encouraged Ohioans who support its goal but have not yet participated to “volunteer for a signing event or print a packet yourself and get 10 signatures.”

“All help is welcome. Come on out and meet your neighbors, and help keep Ohio in the hands of Ohioans,” the group wrote.

Opponents of the data centers needed to collect 413,487 valid signatures, including a minimum number from voters in 44 Ohio counties, before the July 1 deadline to qualify for the November ballot.

State Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, previously doubted that the activists would collect the required number of signatures before the deadline. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, Matt Szollosi, executive director of Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio, and Greg Lawson, senior research fellow at the Buckeye Institute, criticized the proposed amendment.