U.S. to auto-register eligible men for Selective Service by Dec 2026

The U.S. will automatically register men aged 18 to 26 with the Selective Service by December 2026. The policy automates a longstanding registration requirement; it does not immediately reinstate a military draft. Automatic registration preserves the government's ability to conscript if Congress and the president authorize a draft. The change affects millions of men and has sparked political and civil rights debate about fairness and voter registration.