Starting in December 2026, young men aged 18 to 26 in the United States, will be automatically registered for the military draft pool as part of a provision included in the annual defense policy bill recently signed into law by Congress.
All male U.S. citizens within the age range must register for selective service to prepare for a potential draft. The last draft was in effect until February 1973, during the Vietnam War.
Currently, automatic registration is implemented in 46 states and territories, according to the Selective Service System’s (SSS) 2024 report. The SSS proposed a nationwide rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs last month to expand the practice across the country.
The nationwide initiative is unrelated to the ongoing conflict with Iran and received bipartisan support before the current tensions escalated. The Trump administration has not dismissed the possibility of deploying U.S. troops, which has reignited discussions surrounding draft policies.
According to the National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President of the United States, Donald Trump, in December, automatic registration will extend to male U.S. citizens and “every other male person” aged 18 to 26 in the nation. The mandatory registration includes green-card holders, refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented males, while those on nonimmigrant visas are exempt.
In states without automatic registration, individuals must sign up “within 30 days of their 18th birthday,” as indicated on the SSS website. The agency accepts late registrations until an individual’s 26th birthday.
Failing to register for selective service is a felony that can lead to the loss of specific benefits, such as certain student loans and federal employment opportunities. Violating the Military Selective Service Act could result in imprisonment for up to five years and fines reaching $250,000.
Some states, including Arizona and Delaware, automatically register eligible individuals when they apply for a driver’s license or other forms of state identification. In New York, applicants for a driver’s license have an option to register for selective service.
According to the SSS’ 2023 report, over 60% of registrations came from state motor vehicle departments.
Democratic Representative, Chrissy Houlahan, who sponsored the automatic registration provision, stated, “Making registration automatic not only saves taxpayer dollars by removing the need for advertisements but also ensures that young men are not unknowingly penalized.” She emphasized that the initiative enjoys bipartisan backing.
The NDAA passed with strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
Before any draft could occur, Congress would need to approve it. Not all registered individuals would be called to serve, instead, a lottery system would randomly select birthdays and numbers.
Individuals whose 20th birthdays fall during the draft year would be prioritized for induction orders, followed by those aged 21 through 25, then 19-year-olds and those over six months past their 18th birthday.
Selected individuals would have the opportunity to request exemptions or deferments. Remaining registrants would undergo “physical, mental, and moral evaluations,” with those deemed fit for service chosen for duty, according to the SSS.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong