CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- There could be as many as six presidential candidates on West Virginia's ballot this fall, the most state officials can recall.

Three will be on the ballot automatically, including Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. The state Mountain Party has become a branch of the national Green Party, which chose former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as its presidential nominee earlier this month. She will be on the ballot under the Mountain Party.

"We haven't received any official notification [from the Mountain Party], but that's what's going to happen," said Jason Williams, who heads the secretary of state's election division.

Other candidates must submit petitions to gain access to the ballot. Each candidate, or party, must submit the valid signatures of 2 percent of West Virginians who voted in the last presidential election. For 2008, that figure is 15,118.

"We always suggest they get 5 percent more," Williams said.

Candidates have until Aug. 1 to submit the names to the Secretary of State's Office. From there, they will be forwarded to county clerks in all 55 counties to check to make certain the person signing is a registered voter and that it appears to be that person's signature.

Independent candidate Ralph Nader, Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr all are making moves to get on the state's ballot.

They will have an easier time this year, Williams said, because Nader's campaign went to court in 2004 to challenge a state law that forced candidates to submit their petitions before the May primary election. Because of the court ruling, that date has been changed to Aug. 1.

Soon after that date, state officials must submit ballots to be printed. That will push county clerks to validate signatures more quickly.

"It'll be interesting," Williams said.

Nader, who earlier this year broke away from the Green Party, a party that had previously nominated him for president, has a leg up on the others. His campaign submitted about 11,000 signatures in June and already has more than 7,000 signatures validated, Williams said. Since then, Nader's campaign has submitted more petitions that are being validated.

Williams said that usually, about 70 percent of the signatures on ballot petitions are valid.

"We are very close," said Albert Marino, a Texas native who is heading Nader's West Virginia petition drive. "In fact, we have well over the 15,000 signatures needed. Right now we are working on a buffer zone."

The Nader effort started about six weeks ago, he said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- There could be as many as six presidential candidates on West Virginia's ballot this fall, the most state officials can recall.

Three will be on the ballot automatically, including Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. The state Mountain Party has become a branch of the national Green Party, which chose former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as its presidential nominee earlier this month. She will be on the ballot under the Mountain Party.

"We haven't received any official notification [from the Mountain Party], but that's what's going to happen," said Jason Williams, who heads the secretary of state's election division.

Other candidates must submit petitions to gain access to the ballot. Each candidate, or party, must submit the valid signatures of 2 percent of West Virginians who voted in the last presidential election. For 2008, that figure is 15,118.

"We always suggest they get 5 percent more," Williams said.

Candidates have until Aug. 1 to submit the names to the Secretary of State's Office. From there, they will be forwarded to county clerks in all 55 counties to check to make certain the person signing is a registered voter and that it appears to be that person's signature.

Independent candidate Ralph Nader, Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr all are making moves to get on the state's ballot.

They will have an easier time this year, Williams said, because Nader's campaign went to court in 2004 to challenge a state law that forced candidates to submit their petitions before the May primary election. Because of the court ruling, that date has been changed to Aug. 1.

Soon after that date, state officials must submit ballots to be printed. That will push county clerks to validate signatures more quickly.

"It'll be interesting," Williams said.

Nader, who earlier this year broke away from the Green Party, a party that had previously nominated him for president, has a leg up on the others. His campaign submitted about 11,000 signatures in June and already has more than 7,000 signatures validated, Williams said. Since then, Nader's campaign has submitted more petitions that are being validated.

Williams said that usually, about 70 percent of the signatures on ballot petitions are valid.

"We are very close," said Albert Marino, a Texas native who is heading Nader's West Virginia petition drive. "In fact, we have well over the 15,000 signatures needed. Right now we are working on a buffer zone."

The Nader effort started about six weeks ago, he said.

"We're getting an incredible reception," Marino said. "People did not like the choices they were given."

Nader's campaign has pledged to submit their petitions prior to Aug. 1. That's something that should make the 55 county clerks across the state happy.

"If they're happy, we're happy," Marino said.

Williams said Libertarians have told him to expect their petitions on Aug. 1 and he expects that will also be when the Constitution Party submits its.

"We are close to what we need as far as signatures go," said Constitution Party spokeswoman Mary Starrett.

She noted the two major parties have made it difficult for others to get on the West Virginia ballot and the party had a petitioner harassed earlier.

"We are on target to get on the ballot in West Virginia," she said.

Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate, has received a boost from Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, Starrett said.

She said Baldwin has long supported Paul, who once ran for president as a Libertarian and was part of the Republican field this year.

"The Ron Paul people are coming over en masse," she said. "They are really bringing up the rear on this."

Libertarian Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia, appears to have a late start in West Virginia. His campaign Web site notes the West Virginia deadline is fast approaching; the campaign is also advertising on radio stations in the state for people to carry their petitions.

The campaign is willing to pay workers $1 per signature, the ad states.

"It is the goal to be on 50 state ballots," said Barr spokeswoman Audrey Mullen. She said Barr wants to give voters a choice.

Reach Tom Searls at tomsea...@wvgazette.com or 348-5198.