North Carolina Notary Practice Exam

Which of the following items can a notary notarize in North Carolina, as it's not explicitly stated in state law?

1. Marriage certificates

2. Absentee voter ballots

3. Property deeds

4. Divorce papers

The correct answer is: Absentee voter ballots

In North Carolina, the role of a notary public is defined by law, and certain documents are explicitly listed as permissible for notarization. However, not all items fall clearly into those categories. Absentee voter ballots typically involve the process of providing a signature or verifying the identity of a person who is voting remotely. This function can be seen as a form of verification of identity and intent, which aligns with the notarial duties around attending to signatures and identification. The law does not specify absentee voter ballots as a prohibited item for notarization, allowing for flexibility in that aspect. Marriage certificates, property deeds, and divorce papers, however, are more formally defined and regulated within the legal framework of North Carolina. These documents typically require specific procedures or endorsements that may not be suitable for notarization by a notary public alone. Hence, absentee voter ballots emerge as the correct selection because they represent a unique situation where notarization is feasible despite the lack of explicit mention in state law.