Q: It isn't just the Presidential election that matters — your area has smaller elections all the time. "Midterm" elections refers to the House of Congress and, as the name indicates, they come in the middle of the President's term. Here are the requirements you have to fulfill to be eligible:   You have to be a US citizen You have to be a resident of the state you're voting in (each state has different residency requirements, so make sure that you meet them in advance) You cannot be currently serving a prison term, on parole, or in another form of post-release supervision (though check with your local election board to be sure, since some states, such as Vermont or Maine, do not regulate felon voting) If you're looking at the Presidential election, know that you may not have to be 18. Some states allow 17-year-olds (who will be 18 by election day) to vote in the primaries and caucuses. Visit Canivote.org to figure out if you're already registered. Some states give you a form to register when you apply for your driver's license, so you might have registered without knowing it. If you're not, this site can hook you up with the registration form or you can access it directly at the Election Assistance Commission's website. It's available in multiple languages, too!  Keep in mind that, even if you're already registered to vote, you will need to register again if you've changed your name, address, or if you'd like to officially change your political party affiliation. If you have not yet registered to vote, then there are four main ways to do it, depending on your state. You can register online in certain states, send in a National Mail Voter Registration Form, register in person, or fill out an absentee ballot. The most important thing is that you're aware of your state's deadline for registration, which typically falls between 2-4 weeks before an election. You also need to make sure you have the appropriate personal information, such as your name and address, before you register.  Registration in person is easy and you can do it at any of the following locations: the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), election offices, your state's voter registration office, the Armed Service recruitment centers, public assistance facilities, or state-funded disabilities centers. You can also register online if your state is one of the 20 states that allows it. You can check this table to see whether or not you can vote online in your given state. If you can, then all you have to do is to visit the Federal Election Assistance Commission site to find your state's registration forms, right here. You can also easily print, fill out, and mail in a National Mail Voter Registration Form. As long as you don't live in Wyoming, North Dakota, or the U.S. territories, then this option will work for you. Your town probably has dozens. They can be almost anywhere — government buildings, offices, restaurants, and sometimes even citizens' houses. Once in a while, a certain area will let you vote anywhere, but most places require you to vote at your polling place. Make sure you know how to get there well before election day.   Vote411.org can inform you of your polling place. Your state's election office website can do the same, too. If you've recently registered, you should make sure to get confirmation of your registration at least a few weeks before it's time to vote. Check in with your state or local offices if you still haven't received word of your official registration. Find out what you need to bring to the polling place. Each state has different requirements for what you need to bring for identification, whether it's a driver's license, voter registration card, or bank statements or bills with your name and address on them. This will let you know exactly who is running for which office, how many seats are open for the office,  and how many votes you are entitled to cast for each office. It will also spell out any referendum or initiatives appearing before the voters.  If you're new to voting, it may be a good idea to familiarize yourself with your state's ballot. Each one is a bit different. Mark your sample ballot according to your choices. This will help prevent confusion once you get to the voting booth and will allow you to cast your vote in the way you intend. Read the newspapers and look for voters' guides which may be published by nonpartisan groups in your area. Listen to radio or TV candidate debates or attend a debate or a forum in person. In local elections, where coverage is limited, it can be very effective to pick up the telephone and speak to a candidate. Use the internet! Entire websites are dedicated to outlining the candidates' platforms, helping you learn about their stances and whose beliefs are in line with yours.
A: Find out if you're eligible to vote in the next election. Find out if you're already registered. Register to vote. Learn where your polling place is. Obtain a sample ballot. Educate yourself on the candidates and the issues.

Q: The opening lines of a short story are essential, as they will keep the reader engaged and interested enough to continue on. The first sentence or first paragraph often introduces the idea or situation that will be explored in the story. It should give the reader clear indications of tone, style, and voice. It may also tell the reader something about the characters and the plot of the story.  Using Kurt Vonnegut’s rules for a short story, a popular reference for writers, you should always try to “start as close to the end as possible” in your opening lines. Place your reader right in the action as soon as you can so they are hooked into reading on. Often, editors will read the first several lines of a story to see if it’s worth reading to the end. Many short stories are selected for publication based on the strength of their opening line. This is why it is important that you consider how you can make an impact on the reader and make an impression with the first one to two lines. To help you get a better sense of how to start your short story, you should read several example opening lines. Note how the writer draws the reader in and uses every word like it counts. Several examples include:  “The first great act of love I ever witnessed was Split Lip bathing his handicapped daughter.” “Isabelle” by George Saunders. “When this story goes out into the world, I may become the most famous hermaphrodite in history.” “The Obscure Object” by Jeffrey Eugenides. “Just before the alarm went off she was lying in a hot sunny garden, with green lawns around her and stretching as far as she could see.” “Elizabeth” by Shirley Jackson. Once you have read over the example opening lines, ask yourself several questions:  How does the writer set the tone or mood? For example, the first line in Eugenides’ short story “The Obscure Object” introduces the narrator as a hermaphrodite and lets the reader know that the narrator’s life story is going to be told. It sets up a reflective mood, where the narrator relays their life as a famous hermaphrodite. How does the writer introduce key characters or setting? For example, Saunders’ first line in his short story “Isabelle” introduces a character named “Split Lip” as well as his handicapped daughter. It also provides a key theme of the story: love between father and daughter. Jackson’s first line in “Elizabeth” uses description and sensory details, like “hot sunny” and “green”, to paint a specific image in the reader’s mind. What are your expectations as a reader, based on the opening lines? A good first line will signal to the reader what they are in store for, and provide just enough information for the reader to be drawn into the story. The opening line in Saunders’ story, for example, lets the reader know that the story may be a bit quirky or strange, with a character named “Split Lip” and a handicapped girl. It is a bold opening that lets the reader know how the story is going to be narrated, with a unique narrative voice.
A:
Keep in mind the role of the beginning of a short story. Read example opening lines. Analyze the examples.