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Poll: most American voters oppose the construction of data centers for AI

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A poll by New York Times and Siena University among 1 503 likely voters (early September 2026) found that 61 % oppose the construction of data centers for AI and only 14 % strongly support it. Views differed only slightly between voters who supported Trump and those who supported Harris.

A poll released on Tuesday by New York Times and Siena University showed strong public opposition to the construction of data centers for AI. Of the 1 503 likely voters surveyed, 61 percent opposed the construction of such centers, and only 14 percent said they strongly supported it. Data collection took place in early September 2026, before the recent discussion about slowing down due to AI safety concerns.

According to the poll, views varied only slightly by political affiliation. Among voters who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, 49 percent supported construction and 45 percent opposed it, an almost even split. By contrast, people who voted for Kamala Harris, or those who did not vote at all, tended to be more opposed.

The sources do not provide further details about the poll (question methodology beyond what is stated, regional differences, or reactions from politicians). You can find details in the source article.

What changed

Why it matters

The data shows that opposition to the construction of data centers for AI is not tied to a single political party, so companies planning construction cannot count on one political party to ensure a smoother permitting process for them. For operators and investors in AI infrastructure, this means a higher risk of local opposition and political pressure regardless of who is in power.

Relevant practical impact

What this means

01

For a business

Companies planning to build data centers for AI face broad public opposition (61 % against) across the political spectrum, increasing the risk of delays in permitting procedures and local opposition regardless of which party is in power.

Risks and compliance
What to decide When planning new data centers, account for possible public opposition and include communication with the local community in the project timeline.
More business impacts →
americká politika data centers energy infrastructure veřejné mínění Voličské preference

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Event sources

only one source so far · 1 publisher, 1 independent. We count feeds from the same owner only once.

1
The Verge AI independent context · first detected Voters mostly don’t like AI and data centers, but neither party seems to have an edge