What happens if a notary fails to ensure the identification is valid during the notarization process?

When a notary fails to ensure that the identification presented during the notarization process is valid, they can be subject to a civil penalty. This emphasizes the importance of a notary's role in confirming the identity of individuals before performing notarizations. The notary's responsibility is to protect against potential fraud, ensuring that the documents they notarize are legitimate and that the individuals are who they claim to be. If a notary neglects this duty, it may lead to legal consequences, including civil penalties aimed at holding the notary accountable for their actions.

The other choices do not align with the duties and responsibilities of a notary. Automatic raises and praises for flexibility suggest a rewarding or positive consequence, which is not appropriate when compliance with legal requirements is not met. Additionally, regarding the validity of the notarized document, it does not become valid without proper identification; therefore, the failure to verify identification can compromise the integrity of the document.