The Central Electoral Board (JCE) Plenary approved the format of the new personal identity and voter registration card (cedula) yesterday evening, Wednesday 5 February. The card, which will be issued free of charge, will also be provided to minors and foreigners.
According to a press release from the JCE, the document will be available “in the first quarter of this year.”
Copy Solution International is the contractor for the ID cards. The new card will be manufactured with a mixture of PVC and PET, using re-transfer printing technology. The card will also be biometric, both for fingerprinting as well as facial biometrics.
The electoral agency pointed out that they took into account the absence of a technology platform in the country that would permit a chip to be used as an information transmission and storage system, so that after accepting suggestions they decided on the gradual emission of the chip without any visual contact. In the future, the card could include a chip.
Another of the points dealt with by the JCE was the budget distribution to the political parties that totals RD$805 million this year, and will be disbursed to the 26 eligible parties in twelve installments.