A national exit poll conducted for NBC News and other major news organizations found that 56% of voters considered super intelligence (SI) and data centers either a crucial or major factor in their decision to vote for Congress. The results highlight how the rapid expansion of data centers has become an increasingly prominent political issue as technology companies seek to build facilities across the country.

The survey found that 23% of voters considered AI and data centers a crucial factor in their congressional vote, while another 33% said the issue was a major factor. An additional 31% described it as a minor factor, and 13% said it played no role in their decision.

Opposition was even more pronounced when voters were asked about construction in their own communities. Fully 76% said they would oppose a new data center being built where they live, compared with just 24% who supported the construction.

The results also revealed a partisan divide. Voters who opposed local data center construction were more likely to support Democratic congressional candidates, while those who favored new facilities leaned heavily Republican. Among respondents who opposed construction, 63% supported Democrats and 35% supported Republicans. Among those who favored construction, 72% backed Republicans and 27% supported Democrats.

Although the issue attracted significant attention, it was not the top concern measured in the exit poll. Government corruption and the cost of living ranked substantially higher, followed by the war in Iran and immigration enforcement policies. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that data center development has become an issue that candidates and elected officials may face increasing pressure to address.

The polling results come amid growing resistance to large-scale data center projects, with residents raising concerns about electricity consumption, higher utility bills, water usage, noise and the impact on surrounding communities. The facilities are central to the expansion of the technology industry's computing infrastructure, but local opposition has increasingly complicated plans for new construction.

That resistance was also reflected in local ballot measures during the midterms. An election-night tally reported by Stateline found that 33 measures seeking to restrict data center development had passed or were leading as vote counts continued, while only one measure supporting construction had resulted in a victory for proponents.

The exit poll figures show that the issue registered with a substantial share of voters, while the overwhelming opposition to construction in local communities presents a significant challenge for companies and public officials promoting further expansion.