Voters Ban Data Centers and Back Abortion Rights in 2026 Midterms
A wave of ballot measures on abortion, AI data centers, taxes, and food bans reshaped state laws across the country as voters made their voices heard on Election Day.
Voters across the United States decided a wide range of local ballot measures in the 2026 midterm elections, directly approving laws on issues from abortion rights to banning foie gras [279420]. The results revealed deep national divisions on health policy, with voters in some states expanding reproductive freedoms while others tightened restrictions on transgender care [280556].
In several counties, voters rejected Republican candidates in favor of Democrats who promised to stop the construction of new data centers [279947]. These facilities are considered essential for developing artificial intelligence, and the winning candidates had pledged to enact moratoriums or outright bans on building them [279947]. The election results also exposed widespread public unease about artificial intelligence across the country, raising questions about how these attitudes will shape future laws governing AI in healthcare [280570].
On health rights, voters in Virginia approved a measure establishing a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom" in the state constitution, guaranteeing abortions can be performed during the first two trimesters of pregnancy [279420]. A Nevada amendment also established a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered to be reached from 21 weeks of pregnancy [279420]. In Missouri, voters rejected a proposed amendment that would have reimposed restrictions on most abortions, reaffirming a decision they made two years ago [279420]. By contrast, voters in Republican-leaning Idaho rejected a measure that would have established abortion rights in state law [279420].
Voters in Nebraska approved an amendment to write existing medical restrictions for transgender people into the state constitution [279420]. In Arizona, voters backed a measure extending sports restrictions from public schools to private schools [279420].
In Washington DC, voters overwhelmingly approved a ban on the sale and production of foie gras—the fatty liver of force-fed ducks and geese [279420]. Under the new law, businesses and restaurants serving foie gras face fines of $1,000 to $5,000 per violation, and repeat offenders risk losing their business licence [279420]. The ban officially takes effect on 1 July 2027 [279420].
California's Proposition 40, known as the "billionaire tax," is a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of billionaires residing in California, with funds going to healthcare [279420]. The count was still open on Wednesday midday, with a slight lead in favour of the tax [279420].
In Missouri, voters rejected a new congressional redistricting map that Republican lawmakers had approved last year to help the Republican Party win an extra seat around Kansas City [279420]. Meanwhile, voters in Democratic-governed Maryland approved a constitutional amendment that could pave the way for new electoral districts in the 2028 elections [279420].
An amendment approved in Florida could eliminate a significant amount of taxes for homeowners, with the current $50,000 exemption on primary residence value set to triple next year and rise to $250,000 by 2028 [279420].