Sixty-one percent of likely voters oppose the construction of AI data centers, according to a Siena University survey of 1,503 registered voters taken in early September. The share of voters who said they strongly support data center construction sat at just 14 percent, giving opponents a more than four-to-one margin in the latest measure of public sentiment toward the infrastructure behind the artificial intelligence build-out.
The same poll found that the issue cuts across party lines. Among voters who supported the Republican ticket in 2024, 49 percent favored building data centers and 45 percent opposed them, a near-even split. Voters who backed the Democratic ticket in 2024 opposed construction 74 percent to 22 percent, and voters who skipped the last presidential election opposed it 67 percent to 20 percent. Neither major party has much of an edge on the question overall, with 42 percent of the 554 voters who were asked trusting Republicans to handle the issue, 40 percent trusting Democrats, and 18 percent undecided.
What voters actually object to
Concerns about the environment and water usage led the list of reasons for opposition at 32 percent. Impact on local communities followed at 21 percent, with general distrust or dislike of AI at 18 percent, regulation concerns at 10 percent, and worries about the economy at 9 percent. Among voters who said they opposed construction, 56 percent preferred placing limits on data centers, while 38 percent wanted a complete ban.
Where AI ranks as a voting issue
Despite the intensity of opposition, AI and data centers registered at less than 1 percent across most demographic groups when voters were asked which issues would decide their midterm vote. The economy, foreign policy, inflation, and opposition to the current administration drew the most responses overall. Younger voters aged 18 to 29 were the main exception, with 3 percent naming AI and data centers as the issue most likely to drive their choice.
The polling backdrop
The Siena results match a broader pattern of negative readings on AI infrastructure. A Gallup poll in May found that seven in ten Americans opposed local construction of AI data centers, and an earlier NBC News survey in March placed AI polling below immigration enforcement in voter priority. The consistency across polls suggests the opposition is not an artifact of any single survey.
What this means for the build-out
For utility planners, local officials, and the companies funding new campuses, the polling carries a clear signal: opposition to data center construction is now broad, bipartisan, and grounded in concrete local concerns rather than abstract discomfort with the technology. The 38 percent of opponents who want a complete ban, combined with the 56 percent who favor limits, leaves only a narrow base of strong supporters for new construction in the communities most likely to host it.
FAQ
What share of likely voters oppose AI data center construction?
Sixty-one percent of likely voters said they oppose the construction of data centers to power AI technology, while only 14 percent said they strongly support it, according to a Siena University survey of 1,503 likely voters taken in early September.
What are the top reasons voters give for opposing data centers?
Environment and water usage was the most common reason at 32 percent, followed by impact on local communities at 21 percent, general distrust or dislike of AI at 18 percent, regulation concerns at 10 percent, and the economy at 9 percent.
Do voters want limits or an outright ban on data centers?
Among voters who opposed construction, 56 percent supported placing limits on data centers, and 38 percent preferred a total ban.
This article summarizes reporting from theverge.com.