A notary public is a person who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. However, most states require you to be a citizen. This rule is in place to help prevent the potential fraud of notaries who work from abroad. Notaries are elected to serve on a local, state, or federal level, depending on the state in which they are certified. The first word “notary” means to witness. A notary public has to swear to the accuracy of the information they have gathered. This oath is in place to protect the public. A notary public must be able to read, write, and speak the English language fluently. Notaries are required to practice not only at their offices but also at public meetings.