<P> In addition, candidates may spend up to $50,000 from their own personal funds . Such spending does not count against the expenditure limit . </P> <P> Minor party candidates and new party candidates may become eligible for partial public funding of their general election campaigns . (A minor party candidate is the nominee of a party whose candidate received between 5 and 25 percent of the total popular vote in the preceding Presidential election . A new party candidate is the nominee of a party that is neither a major party nor a minor party . This includes most "independent" candidates, because they run on a token party line .) The amount of public funding to which a minor party candidate is entitled is based on the ratio of the party's popular vote in the preceding Presidential election to the average popular vote of the two major party candidates in that election . A new party candidate receives partial public funding after the election if he / she receives 5 percent or more of the vote . The entitlement is based on the ratio of the new party candidate's popular vote in the current election to the average popular vote of the two major party candidates in the election . </P> <P> Although minor and new party candidates may supplement public funds with private contributions and may exempt some fundraising costs from their expenditure limit, they are otherwise subject to the same spending limit and other requirements that apply to major party candidates . </P> <P> In 1977, about 29% of taxpayers checked off the box to contribute $3 of their taxes towards the fund . The level dropped to 19% by 1992, and dropped further to only 6% in 2013 . A couple of reasons were cited for the decline . One cited reason is a misunderstanding that checking the box would increase the tax liability, and another cited reason is apathy towards the political process . </P>

Candidates running for office who wish to use their own money to fund their campaigns are