Mexico: Identity Registration 2009-2011

The Secretaría de Gobernación de México (Secretariat of Governance, SEGOB) is carrying out a biometric registration project in order to create a new Identity card, using the latest available technology, with the goal of modernizing their civil registry (Registro Nacional de Población, RENAPO).

Smartmatic, a leading supplier of security and election solutions, along with partner Cross Match Technologies Inc., were selected by the SEGOB to supply new technologies to improve the national registry.  The SEGOB purchased 2,000 PARkit units, which are being used to register fingerprint, iris, facial features, and signature images of more than 100 million Mexican citizens.

This initiative aims to enable citizens to exercise their right to have a valid digital identity. The SEGOB wants to create a civil registry database where the identity of every Mexican citizen is safely guarded by taking advantage of the latest biometric technology.

Smartmatic is supplying the architecture of the solution. In addition is in charge of systems integration, training, and first level support to end users. Cross Match is providing advanced hardware and software. The SEGOB has stated that Smartmatic and Cross Match technology were chosen because it complied with all the technical requirements needed for the project.

Mexico has an estimated population of 110 million inhabitants, making it the second most populous country in Latin America, after Brazil. Mexican law requires all the citizens to be registered.