With national elections set for February 1, Costa Rican citizens face a final push to secure their identity cards before heading to the polls. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has issued reminders that a valid cédula de identidad remains the key document for casting a vote, and officials note that thousands of cards sit uncollected at registry offices.
The TSE reports that over 24,000 new voters—those who turned 18 since the last election—failed to pick up their cédulas in time, despite repeated outreach efforts. This group forms part of the 131,000 young electors added to the rolls, born between 2006 and 2008. The electoral registry now stands at 3.7 million, up 4.3 percent from 2022, with 44 percent of voters aged 18 to 39. TSE leaders stress that without a cédula, these individuals cannot participate, potentially lowering youth turnout.
For all eligible voters, the rules are clear: the cédula must be in good condition. Cards expired for less than a year as of election day still count, but damaged, lost, or older expired ones do not. Passports and driver’s licenses will not substitute. TSE President Eugenia Zamora urged people to act now, saying no one should skip the vote over a missing card.
To handle the demand, the TSE extended hours at its 32 offices nationwide. Services run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with select Saturday openings from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On election day, all locations open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for last-chance pickups and renewals. In San José, lines have stretched 350 meters, with waits topping two hours, as citizens rush for renewals or replacements.
This alert applies to Costa Rican citizens, including naturalized ones who hold long-term residency and have gained citizenship. Foreign expats without citizenship cannot vote in national elections, which decide the president and legislators. Those eligible must register on the padrón, closed since October for logistics.
The push comes amid a redesigned cédula rollout last year, which improved security and removed parental details, but the core need stays the same: carry your ID to vote. Officials expect lines to grow as the date nears, so they advise checking status online at tse.go.cr and visiting early.
Voters abroad, numbering a record 67,270 registered Costa Ricans, can cast ballots at embassies and consulates. Back home, the message is simple—get your cédula ready to join the democratic process.
