Jill Stein, this year's Green Party candidate for president, will appear on the Oregon ballot now that the state's Pacific Green Party has maintained its ballot status.

The Pacific Green Party was in

-- and its access to the ballot -- because the number of voters registered in the party had dipped below the approximately 10,000 needed to qualify. But following a voter registration drive, the party has been

that it can go ahead and nominate candidates to the ballot.

UPDATE

:

Election officials said the party had 10,494 registrants as of Thursday, exceeding the 10,328 needed.

Stein, a Massachusetts physician who was a minor-party candidate against Mitt Romney in his 2002 gubernatorial race, is the

. She may not have Ralph Nader's name recognition, but there's already been plenty of discussion about how her candidacy could be a factor in a close election if she draws disillusioned supporters of President Barack Obama.

Interestingly, Stein won't be the only challenger from Obama's left on the Oregon ballot.

, who has been endorsed by Nader, is the nominee of the Oregon Progressive Party.

The Pacific Green Party said it also nominated Seth Woolley of Portland to be its candidate for secretary of state and Pat Driscoll of Eugene to run for treasurer.

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