In fact there have been several such (successful) votes in the US – albeit on a smaller scale. You don't hear about them because the results just get nullified

In fact there have been several such (successful) votes in the US – albeit on a smaller scale. You don't hear about them because the results just get nullified in court and everyone goes on their way: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession_in_the_United_States#City_secession https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession_in_the_United_States... Even during "the big one", the secession of the CSA from the USA, it was the CSA who started the hostility, several months after declaring secession: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Sumter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Sumter