What action could lead to a notary's commission being revoked?

A notary's commission can be revoked for notarizing documents without the signer's presence. This action undermines the integrity and authenticity of the notarization process, which requires the notary to verify the identity of the signer at the time of the act. Not being present to witness the signature means the notary cannot confirm that the individual signing the document is indeed who they claim to be, which is a core responsibility of the notary. This requirement is fundamental in preventing fraud and ensuring that individuals are signing documents voluntarily and with an understanding of their contents.

While other options involve important practices that support a notary's professional conduct and adherence to regulations, they do not carry the same immediate risk of compromising the notarization process or the notary's integrity in the eyes of the law. For instance, charging more than the allowed fee may have regulatory consequences, but it does not jeopardize the authenticity of individual notarizations in the same way. Similarly, not keeping a journal may undermine the notary's record-keeping obligations, but it does not directly interfere with the act of witnessing a signature. Failure to follow up on notarized documents, while potentially problematic, typically doesn't lead to a commission revocation by itself. Therefore, notarizing without the signer