A poll released on September 15 by the New York Times and Siena University shows that AI and data centers are unpopular among U.S. voters. According to a survey of 1,503 likely voters conducted in early September, 61% said they oppose the construction of data centers to power AI technology, while only 14% said they strongly support it.
Majority of U.S. Voters Oppose AI Data Center Construction, Poll Shows
Political affiliations show a split in opinion. Among 2024 Donald Trump voters, 49% support the construction and 45% oppose it. In contrast, 74% of those who voted for Kamala Harris expressed opposition, and 67% of those who did not vote also expressed opposition.
The primary reasons for opposition include concerns over environmental and water usage (32%), impact on local communities (21%), and general distrust or dislike of AI (18%). Among those who oppose the data centers, 56% support imposing limits, while 38% prefer a total ban.
Despite this opposition, the issue ranks low in importance for voters deciding upcoming midterm elections. For most demographics, AI and data centers registered at less than one percent as a priority, though the figure reached 3% among voters aged 18 to 29.
Sources
- Voters mostly don’t like AI and data centers, but neither party seems to have an edge （The Verge AI, 2026-09-15）