Dominican citizens face over a year with expired ID cards

Santo Domingo.- All Dominican citizens of legal age currently hold expired identity and electoral cards, as replacements issued for lost cards also bear the same expiration date. This situation has raised concerns, particularly among political party leaders, about potential difficulties for citizens, especially those living abroad, when presenting their identification.

The Central Electoral Board (JCE) issued a resolution on August 8, 2024, extending the validity of the ID cards “until the process of replacing them is concluded, on a date to be announced.” However, Law 8-92 stipulates that ID cards are valid for six years from the date of issuance. The JCE plans to issue new ID cards in phases based on the holders’ birthdays, a process expected to take over a year to complete.

Despite this extension, political figures like Janet Camilo of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) have urged the JCE to expedite the renewal process. Camilo highlighted issues faced by citizens traveling abroad, where expired ID cards may not be accepted, despite the JCE resolution. The JCE postponed the issuance of new ID cards, initially set for August 17, 2024, and plans to award the printing contract in February 2025 for a total of 2,081.6 million pesos.