What is the immediate requirement if a notary's seal is lost or stolen?

When a notary's seal is lost or stolen, the immediate requirement is to notify the Secretary of State. This is crucial because the notary seal is an official tool that verifies the authenticity of a notary's acts. The Secretary of State needs to be aware of the loss to prevent potential fraudulent use of the seal. Reporting this incident ensures that the notary can take appropriate steps, such as cancelling the lost or stolen seal and potentially securing a replacement while safeguarding the integrity of their notarial acts.

In the context of the other options, notifying the local police may be a prudent step to document the theft or loss, but it is not the immediate requirement set forth in the notary regulations. Reordering a seal without notice would not address the risk of fraud associated with an unaccounted seal. Lastly, publicly announcing the loss in a local newspaper is neither a requirement nor an efficient method for dealing with the situation, as it does not notify regulatory authorities or provide security against misuse of the seal.