The registrant appeal process begins when a registrant is dissatisfied with his Local Board’s decision about his reclassification request and initiates an appeal. The first line of appeal is to the District Appeal Board. In the case of non-unanimous decisions of the District Appeal Board, the registrant may appeal to the President through the National Appeal Board.

The National Director and State Directors of Selective Service may also take appeals to a District Appeal Board to ensure fair and equitable administration of Selective Service law and regulations.

District Appeal Boards are located in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and Virgin Islands. The law requires at least one such board within the area of each federal judicial district in the United States and within each territory and possession. Members, who are uncompensated civilian volunteers, are appointed by the Director of Selective Service in the name of the President. Each is a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, not an active or retired member of the Armed Forces or any reserve component of the Armed Forces, a resident of the geographical area in the Federal judicial district over which his or her particular board has jurisdiction, and meets all of the other membership requirements of the law and regulations.

Non-unanimous decisions of the District Appeal Boards may be appealed to the President for determination by the National Appeal Board. Appeals may be taken by the registrant or the same Selective Service personnel identified in taking appeals to the District Appeal Boards. The three-member National Appeal Board is the final appeal authority.