What should a notary do before providing public access to their journal?

Before providing public access to their journal, a notary should redact any unauthorized information. This is crucial because a notary's journal may contain sensitive personal details about the individuals whose signatures they have witnessed, such as Social Security numbers, addresses, or other private information. Redaction ensures that this sensitive information is protected before the journal is made public, safeguarding the privacy of the individuals involved.

Keeping the integrity of the journal while ensuring compliance with privacy laws is essential for a notary's responsibilities. By redacting unauthorized information, notaries can fulfill their legal obligations and maintain the trust and confidence of the public in their services. It's important for notaries to be diligent about privacy, as failing to protect this information can result in legal repercussions or loss of reputation.

While it's important for a notary to assess the completeness of entries and other choices may seem practical, none address the highest priority, which is ensuring that protected information is not exposed to the public. Changing the journal format to digital or removing entries also does not appropriately address the core issue of protecting sensitive information contained within the journal.