Ohio Voters Back Local Limits on Data Centers in Election Measures

A local vote on a global industry

November 5, 2026 · 10:38 p.m. Central / 11:38 p.m. Eastern

Voters in several Ohio communities have backed measures limiting large data centers, adding local restrictions as technology companies seek more space and power for digital services and artificial intelligence.

In southwest Ohio, voters approved restrictions in Piqua and Urbana and rejected rezoning decisions in Wilmington, according to WYSO’s reporting on unofficial results. The measures vary by community: they are not a statewide ban on data centers.

In Trenton, about 79.7% voted for a charter amendment restricting large facilities, Ballotpedia reported, citing Butler County’s unofficial results. The count remains subject to election certification.

What the measures do

Piqua voters approved a charter amendment barring construction of data centers with peak power demand greater than 25 megawatts. Urbana approved a 7.5-megawatt threshold, WYSO reported.

Whether the Piqua amendment affects a Meta data-center project already underway is unclear, a city spokesperson told WYSO. Urbana faces litigation over a proposed project; the election result does not by itself resolve that dispute.

Wilmington voters rejected four city rezoning decisions involving land near U.S. 68. WYSO described those votes as limits on development rather than a general data-center ban.

Why power and land matter

Data centers house computers and network equipment that support online services, including AI systems. Large facilities can require substantial electricity and water, and proposals have sparked disputes over utility bills, land use and local control.

Developers and supporters point to investment and economic activity. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called data centers important to the economy while acknowledging public concerns, according to earlier Associated Press reporting.

Axios reported that other Ohio communities also backed restrictions. The exact legal effects depend on each measure, existing agreements and any future court decisions.

Where one vote took place

The star marks the approximate Trenton, Ohio area for context.

From petition to vote

Dates are Eastern time.

1. July 2026 Trenton residents filed a petition seeking a charter amendment on data-center construction, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.
2. September 1, 2026 The state Supreme Court ruled that Trenton’s council had improperly refused to certify the petition.
3. November 3, 2026 Voters in Trenton and several other Ohio communities considered local measures; reported results were unofficial.

A campaigner’s response

Kim Georgeton, a former Ohio lieutenant-governor primary candidate who has opposed large data centers, welcomed the local results on X. Her post is an advocate’s response; the results above come from local reporting.

Read Georgeton’s post on X

Open the original post if the embed does not load.

Sources and visual credits

WYSO · Axios · Ohio Supreme Court · Ballotpedia · Kim Georgeton on X.

Hero: conceptual illustration, not an actual site. Thumbnail: example archive data-center photograph by Carl Lender via Wikimedia Commons, 2015, CC BY 2.0, cropped; not a photo of a facility in the vote. Map: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.