Poll data released Tuesday by the New York Times and Siena University confirms what we’ve already been seeing, and what politicians are responding to — AI and data centers are incredibly unpopular. Asked if they support or oppose the construction of data centers to power AI tech, 61 percent of the 1,503 likely voters surveyed in early September said they were opposed, with only 14 percent saying they strongly support.

The split was about even among 2024 Donald Trump voters, at 49 percent support to 45 percent oppose, while people who had voted for Kamala Harris or who didn’t vote leaned oppose, at 74 percent and 67 percent, respectively. An NBC News poll in March showed AI polling lower than ICE, and a Gallup poll in May revealed seven in ten Americans opposed local construction of AI data centers.

A closer look at the reasons for opposition reveals environmental concerns and distrust of AI to be the biggest culprits. Fifty-six percent of those opposed to data centers said they supported limits, while 38 percent preferred a total ban. The environment/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, and regulation concerns and the economy at 10 and 9 percent, respectively.

Despite these low numbers, AI and data centers registered at less than one percent for most demographics as the most important issue in deciding their midterm vote. However, younger voters like the 18-29 group, where three percent picked that one instead of the more popular responses like the economy, foreign policy, inflation, and opposition to Trump/Republicans, still showed a slight interest. Voters in either party still overwhelmingly picked their own party as the one they trusted to handle the issue, with 40 percent favoring Democrats, 42 percent favoring Republicans, and 18 percent saying they didn’t know or refused.