State Laws & Regulations on
Selective Service / Military Draft Registration

draft registration poster

Common draft registration poster found in US Post Offices

By the Center on Conscience & War

As many people know from the literature in their local U.S. Post Office, every male between the ages of 18 and 26 (with very few exceptions) is required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS). Many people probably think that it’s up to them whether they actually register or not. However, in too many cases, this is not true. If one applies for a driver’s license, permit, or even an identification card, in many states that automatically registers them for a future military draft, often unwittingly.

What if a conscientious objector is applying for a driver’s license? There is no place in the application to declare one’s convictions. On most applications, there is no way to “opt out” of registration for the Draft. If someone is a total objector to registration for a system of war, then they are denied their right to travel unless they violate their convictions.

The Center on Conscience & War is a firm opponent of all forms of conscription. As a defender of the rights of conscientious objectors, we believe the Selective Service system is fundamentally unjust and is a violation of fundamental religious freedom.

Summary of state laws that encourage or compel registration

States and territories that have enacted and implemented legislation linking driver’s licenses and registration with the SSS:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

States that have enacted and implemented legislation tying registration with Selective Service to state benefits but not to driver’s licenses:

Alaska, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and North Dakota.

States that have not currently passed legislation linking benefits to registration:

Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wyoming. Note that Maryland (2002) and Nebraska (2021) have enacted driver’s license legislation, requiring SSS to provide funding, which it has yet to provide.

We keep track of state and national laws and policies that relate both to military draft registration and conscientious objection. Here we have compiled provisions of state statutes that pertain to driver’s license application and Selective Service registration.

Our complete breakdown of states that have enacted legislation in regards to Selective Service System (SSS) registration can be found below. 

Click on the state names for additional commentary.

By State Laws & Regs

Alabama

Alabama

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to enroll in a state funded institution of higher education. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment or promotion.

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Alaska

Alaska

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? No. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to receive state financial aid. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment.

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Arizona

Arizona

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to receive state financial aid. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment.

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Arkansas

Arkansas

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license or identification card. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to receive state financial aid, loans, or acceptance into a state funded institution of higher education. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment.

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California

California

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? No. Access to Higher Education? No, do not need to be registered to receive state financial aid. State Employment? No.

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Colorado

Colorado

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? No, not required to be registered to enroll in a state funded institution of higher education or to receive state student financial aid. State Employment? No.

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Connecticut

Connecticut

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Delaware

Delaware

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to receive state financial aid. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment.

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District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, MAY register when applying for a license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Florida

Florida

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment or promotion.

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Georgia

Georgia

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license, permit or identification card. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to receive state financial aid. State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment.

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Guam

Guam

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, may register when applying for a license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Hawaii

Hawaii

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license or permit. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Idaho

Idaho

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for a license, permit, or identification card may register with the SSS. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Illinois

Illinois

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license or permit. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Indiana

Indiana

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for a license may register. Registration Linked to Access to Higher Education? No. Registration Required for State Employment? No.

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Iowa

Iowa

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, may register when applying for a license or ID card. Registration Linked to Access to Higher Education? No. Registration Required for State Employment? No.

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Kansas

Kansas

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license. Registration Linked to Access to Higher Education? No. Registration Required for State Employment? No.

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Kentucky

Kentucky

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, may register when they apply for a license, permit, or ID. If the individual refuses, the state may forward that information to the Selective Service. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Louisiana

Louisiana

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license, permit, or identification card. Registration Linked to Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered to enroll in state funded institution of higher education. Registration Required for State Employment? Yes, must be registered for state employment.

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Maine

Maine

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, may be registered to receive license, permit, or identification card. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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Maryland

Maryland

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? No, legislation passed but never implemented. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? No. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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Michigan

Michigan

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, may register when applying for a license. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Minnesota

Minnesota

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Mississippi

Mississippi

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Missouri

Missouri

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for license or permit may register. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Montana

Montana

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for license, permit or identification card may register, and the state may provide that info to the SSS. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Nevada

Nevada

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants may register. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants may register. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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New Jersey

New Jersey

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? No. Access to Higher Education? Yes, must be registered for state financial aid. State Employment? No.

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New Mexico

New Mexico

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license or ID. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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New York

New York

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? Convicted draft law violators cannot hold public elected office.

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North Carolina

North Carolina

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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North Dakota

North Dakota

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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N Mariana Islands

N Mariana Islands

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Schools must encourage registration. State Employment? Yes.

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Ohio

Ohio

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for license may register. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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South Carolina

South Carolina

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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South Dakota

South Dakota

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Tennessee

Tennessee

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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Texas

Texas

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Utah

Utah

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? No.

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Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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Virginia

Virginia

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Washington

Washington

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for a license may register. Access to Higher Education? No. State Employment? No.

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West Virginia

West Virginia

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, applicants for license may register. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Driver’s License Linked to Registration? Yes, must be registered to receive a license. Access to Higher Education? Yes. State Employment? Yes.

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