Illinois Notary Primer Practice Exam

Which of the following is an acceptable form of identification for notarization?

1. High school ID card

2. A valid U.S. passport

3. Social Security card

4. Employee badge

The correct answer is: A valid U.S. passport

A valid U.S. passport is an acceptable form of identification for notarization because it is a government-issued document that includes a photo, the individual’s signature, and verifies identity and citizenship. Notaries require reliable identification to ensure the person signing the document is who they claim to be. In contrast, some of the other options, like a high school ID card or an employee badge, may not contain sufficient identifying information or may not be recognized as official, government-issued identification. A Social Security card, while it contains a person's name and Social Security number, does not include a photo or signature, making it less suitable for identity verification in a notarial context. Therefore, the U.S. passport stands out as the most reliable form of identification that fulfills the requirements for notarization.