President Danilo Medina received his new biometric identity card (cedula) yesterday, 14 April, an event that marks the start of the issuing of the new Central Electoral Board (JCE) identity card to around 7 million persons in the Dominican Republic.
The president of the JCE, Roberto Rosario Marquez was at the Presidential Palace to complete the process for the President and hand him his new identity card, including taking his photograph, and digitizing his signature and fingerprints.
Rosario emphasized that the card is more secure than the old one. He said it enables the National Police to have access to more data for any specific person. Financial institutions and other businesses, government agencies and organizations will have access to technology to quickly determine whether a card is false.
During Easter Week, the JCE will issue the new identity cards to their staff at 147 offices and 15 mobile units. Starting on Monday, 21 April, the new ID cards will be issued to the general public.
The new identity card is valid for 10 years and is embedded with more than 20 different security measures, making it practically incorruptible, says the JCE.
In addition, identity cards will be issued to minors from 16 to 18 years, military and police personnel and legal foreign residents.
http://presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/danilo-medina-ya-tiene-su-nueva-c%C3%A9dula-de-identidad-y-electoral