Can an applicant with a disqualifying crime be denied appointment as a notary public?

An applicant with a disqualifying crime can indeed be denied appointment as a notary public, which aligns with the answer provided. The California Government Code specifies that certain criminal convictions can disqualify an individual from becoming a notary. These disqualifications are generally based on the nature of the crime and can include felony convictions and certain misdemeanors.

Being a notary public carries the responsibility of acting as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, thus ensuring integrity and trust in the process. If an applicant has a disqualifying crime on their record, it raises concerns about their reliability and character, which are essential qualities for this role.

In this context, the options that suggest denial would only apply under specific circumstances or that a disqualifying crime would not result in denial don’t take into account the broad applicability of the disqualifying criteria set forth in the law.