After microfilming, the cards are keyed and then verified by a different data transcriber. Magnetic tapes, containing all information keyed from the registration cards, are produced for processing by the computer center. The registration records go through a series of computer validation checks resulting in either registration or placement onto a computerized error file. If the computer accepts all the information, the registrant is issued an acknowledgment of registration. If an error is detected at any point in processing the information is reprocessed or a letter is sent to the registrant requesting clarification.
All processing follows a published schedule.
The time required to process a registration, from the date the registration form is completed at the post office, to the date the acknowledgment of registration is generated, averages approximately 4 weeks. Regulations and mobilization readiness require that processing take no more than 90 days. Updating this data base requires continual changes and maintenance to remain accurate and usable. Over one million changes, mostly to addresses, are processed each year.