More than 56.000 Unclaimed Cedulas
According to the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE), the body that oversees the national registry as well as the presidential elections, says that some people don't worry about not carrying their identification known as the "cedula", as there more than 56.000 cedulas waiting to be picked up.

The cedula is an important piece of identification in Costa Rica. Issued to every Costa Rican over the age of 18 who applies for one and without it no banking or any important transaction can be made without it.

The TSE the majority of the documents still unclaimed are in the province of San José with 19.000, followed by Cartago (3.741), Alajuela (2.983), Heredia (2.751) and Limón (2.645) and smaller numbers at all 33 TSE offices around the country.

Marisol Castro, head of the Registro Nacional of the TSE, says that the presidential elections have spurred an increase in the demand for the cedula, since without one, a person cannot vote.

It takes several days for the process of obtaining a cedula. Castro says that those who have not applied for one or need it replaced have until January 27 to obtain one in time for the February 5 elections.

Castro added that in special cases, a cedula can be processed and produced the say day. The equipment used by the Registro Nacional normally can process 2.500 of the documents each day.