Cheyenne Residents Fight Microsoft Annexation with Referendum Drive

Cheyenne residents have been campaigning to put Microsoft's annexation on the ballot after the city voted to incorporate nearly 3,500 acres of land for a data center campus. The proposal was met with criticism from local residents over its potential impact on the community.

The petitioners needed to collect signatures from at least 10% of the City of Cheyenne's 2024 electorate within 20 days, which is approximately 2,739 people. Organizers believe they have collected enough signatures, with around 3,200 signatures gathered in total, leaving a buffer of about 400.

The annexation was approved by the city on July 13, with Microsoft planning to use the land for a data center campus by July 2026. The city cited that the request met all statutory requirements and did not discriminate based on speculative future land use.