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.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- 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.

Article: Ticks enjoy tall grass and low shrubs. Some ticks are very small almost flea sizedwhile others are much larger. Ticks are generally black or brown and oval in shape. Like spiders and scorpions, they belong to the group of arthropods called arachnids, and they have eight legs. You will need a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and a jar filled with alcohol. You will also want to have some disinfectant around such as a chlorhexidine solution (Nolvasan) or povidine iodine solution (Betadine) to clean the wound after removing the tick from your pet. If you live in an area where ticks are common, you may also want to get a device designed to remove ticks. These clever instruments looks like a spoon with a notch cut into the side and works great to remove ticks off people and pets. Though a common belief, you cannot actually kill ticks by flushing them down the toilet. The only way you can properly kill them is to put them in alcohol or spray them with flea and tick spray. Removing ticks isn't fun for your dog either. Give him his favorite toy to chew on and a treat or two (along with your love and affection) before you get started. You should check your canine friend for ticks whenever he has been somewhere that is known to have ticks (hiking trails, yards with tall grass, etc.) You should feel for small bumps with your hands and look for dark, circular bumps with your eyes. Begin your search on the top of your dog's back and move down each side towards his chest and belly. Be sure to search in and around his: Legs Between his toes and pads of his feet Under his legs (armpits), belly, chest, and tail On top of, inside, and under the ears Face and on the crown of the head Chin The front of the neck If you have a hard time going through your pet's hair, you might want to enlist the help of a fine-toothed comb to search your dog for ticks. If that doesn't seem to work, you can set a blowdryer on cool and use that to part your dog's hair. Just be aware that some dogs are afraid of hairdryers. You should use these instruments in addition to your hands since feeling the bumps is still the best method.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Know how to identify a tick and its preferred environment. Gather the correct tools before you look for ticks. Make sure your pet is in calm and happy state. Search your dog for ticks. Use a comb if your dog's hair is very thick or curly.