LAS VEGAS (AP) - A state election official says Ralph Nader will appear on the November ballot as an independent presidential candidate.

Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Matt Griffin says county officials have reported that Nader has the nearly 5,000 signatures
of registered voters needed to qualify for the ballot.

Nader's campaign claimed to have submitted 12,000 signatures to county officials earlier this month.

This will be the fourth time Nader has appeared as a presidential candidate on the Nevada ballot.

The campaign is currently working to put the former Green Party candidate and consumer advocate on the ballot in seven states. Nader says he hopes to be on the ballot in 45 states.

Former San Francisco supervisor Matt Gonzalez is Nader's running mate.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)