§ 2-102 — Application

(a) Application for notary public commission. Every applicant for appointment and commission as a notary shall complete an application in a format prescribed by the Secretary of State to be filed with the Secretary of State, stating: (1) the applicant's official name, as it appears on his or her current driver's license or state-issued identification card; (2) the county in which the applicant resides or, if the applicant is a resident of a state bordering Illinois, the county in Illinois in which that person's principal place of work or principal place of business is located; (3) the applicant's residence address, as it appears on his or her current driver's license or state-issued identification card; (4) the applicant's e-mail address; (5) the applicant's business address if different than the applicant's residence address, if performing notarial acts constitutes any portion of the applicant's job duties; (6) that the applicant has resided in the State of Illinois for 30 days preceding the application or that the applicant who is a resident of a state bordering Illinois has worked or maintained a business in Illinois for 30 days preceding the application; (7) that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; (8) the applicant's date of birth; (9) that the applicant is proficient in the English language; (10) that the applicant has not had a prior application or commission revoked due to a finding or decision by the Secretary of State; (11) that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony; (12) that the applicant's signature authorizes the Office of the Secretary of State to conduct a verification to confirm the information provided in the application, including a criminal background check of the applicant, if necessary; (13) that the applicant has provided satisfactory proof to the Secretary of State that the applicant has successfully completed any required course of study on notarization; and (14) any other information the Secretary of State deems necessary. (b) Any notary appointed under subsection (a) shall have the authority to conduct remote notarizations. (c) Application for electronic notary public commission. An application for an electronic notary public commission must be filed with the Secretary of State in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of State. Every applicant for appointment and commission as an electronic notary public shall complete an application to be filed with the Secretary of State, stating: (1) all information required to be included in an application for appointment as an electronic notary public, as provided under subsection (a); (2) that the applicant is commissioned as a notary public under this Act; (3) the applicant's email address; (4) that the applicant has provided satisfactory proof to the Secretary of State that the applicant has successfully completed any required course of study on electronic notarization and passed a qualifying examination; (5) a description of the technology or device that the applicant intends to use to create his or her electronic signature in performing electronic notarial acts; (6) the electronic signature of the applicant; and (7) any other information the Secretary of State deems necessary. (d) Electronic notarial acts. Before an electronic notary public performs an electronic notarial act using audio-video communication, he or she must be granted an electronic notary public commission by the Secretary of State under this Section, and identify the technology that the electronic notary public intends to use, which must be approved by the Secretary of State. (e) Approval of commission. Upon the applicant's fulfillment of the requirements for a notarial commission or an electronic notary public commission, the Secretary of State shall approve the commission and issue to the applicant a unique commission number. (f) Rejection of application. The Secretary of State may reject an application for a notarial commission or an electronic notary public commission if the applicant fails to comply with any Section of this Act. (Source: P.A. 102-160, eff. 6-5-23 (See Section 91 of P.A. 103-562 for effective date of P.A. 102-160); 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)