Put Your Body Where Your Vote Is
What if voting for war meant signing up for it? In 1916, a bold proposal almost made that a reality.
At the time, Nebraska residents proposed a constitutional amendment requiring a national referendum before declaring war, with voters supporting war also needing to register for military service.
Though it didn't pass, the idea resurfaces in debates, particularly among anti-war groups. Similar efforts, like Rep. Louis Ludlow's 1930s proposals for a national vote on war declarations, gained public support but failed in Congress.
