Janesville, Wisconsin, voters to decide Nov. 3, 2026, initiative requiring approval for development projects exceeding $

Voters in Janesville, Wisconsin, will decide on a ballot initiative on Nov. 3, 2026, that would require voter approval before a proposed $8 billion data center can be developed.

On Feb. 9, 2026, the Janesville City Council voted to include the ballot initiative on the general election ballot. No Janesville Data Center organized the petition drive. Petitioners were required to collect signatures equal to 15% of the 26,082 votes cast in Janesville in the most recent gubernatorial election, resulting in a requirement of 3,915 signatures. On Jan. 21, the clerk's office certified 3,927 signatures.

The ballot initiative would require voter approval before the City of Janesville could approve development on undeveloped portions of the GM/JATCO site if the project’s cost exceeds $450 million. Approval would require a majority vote at a general or special election. If voters reject the proposal, any new development plan or agreement for the site would require a new referendum.

The GM/JATCO site is city-owned property, formerly known as the Janesville Assembly Plant, located at 1000 General Motors Drive and 544 Kellogg Avenue. General Motors operated the Janesville Assembly Plant from 1919 to 2008.


https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/12/janesville-wisconsin-voters-to-decide-nov-3-2026-initiative-requiring-approval-for-development-projects-exceeding-450-million-at-gm-jatco-site-such-as-proposed-data-center/