Automatic military draft registration takes effect in December. Here's how it would work
ABC7 Los Angeles • • nation
Key Points:
- Starting December, all young men aged 18 to 26 in the U.S. will be automatically registered for the military draft pool as mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act signed into law last year.
- The automatic registration applies to male U.S. citizens and most male residents, including green-card holders, refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented men, but exempts those on nonimmigrant visas.
- Failure to register is a felony that can lead to imprisonment, fines, and loss of federal benefits such as student loans and government jobs.
- The draft would only occur if Congress approves it, with a lottery system determining induction order by age and birthday, and individuals may request exemptions or deferments before undergoing evaluations for fitness to serve.
- The automatic registration measure has bipartisan support and aims to streamline the process, reduce costs, and prevent eligible men from unknowingly facing penalties.
