Poll: 61% of likely voters oppose construction of AI data centers

A survey conducted by The New York Times and Siena University in early September found that 61% of 1,503 likely voters oppose the construction of data centers to power AI technology, with only 14% expressing strong support. The poll was released days after discussions about an AI safety slowdown, though the issue ranked low among voter priorities.

Opposition to data centers was split along party lines: 49% of respondents who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 opposed construction, compared to 74% of those who voted for Kamala Harris and 67% of respondents who did not vote. Among those opposed to data centers, 56% supported limits on their construction, while 38% favored a total ban.

The most commonly cited reasons for opposition were environmental and water usage concerns (32%), followed by the impact on local communities (21%), and general distrust or dislike of AI (18%). Regulation concerns and economic impacts were cited by 10% and 9% of respondents, respectively.

Across most demographics, less than 1% of voters ranked AI and data centers as a top issue in deciding their midterm vote. The highest exception was voters aged 18–29, where 3% selected it as a priority over issues like the economy, foreign policy, inflation, or opposition to Trump or Republicans.

When asked which party they trusted to handle the issue, 40% favored Democrats, 42% favored Republicans, and 18% were unsure or refused to answer. The poll results suggest that neither major party holds a clear advantage on this issue among voters.