Australians begin voting generally elections as pope’s dying overshadows campaigning

Folks arrive at a polling place as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a nationwide election to be held on Could 3
| Picture Credit score: AP

Australians started voting Tuesday (April 22, 2025) at basic elections as campaigning was overshadowed by the dying of Pope Francis.

Polling stations opened to voters who for a wide range of causes might be unable to vote on Could 3. Round half the votes are anticipated to be forged earlier than the election date.

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Each Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition chief Peter Dutton cancelled marketing campaign occasions deliberate for Tuesday (April 22, 2025) out of respect for the late pontiff.

Flags had been flown at half employees from authorities buildings throughout the nation the place a 2021 census discovered 20% of the inhabitants had been Catholics.

Mr. Albanese was raised as a Catholic however selected to be sworn in as Prime Minister when he was elected in 2022 by making a secular affirmation fairly than by taking an oath on a Bible.

Mr. Albanese attended a Mass in honour of the pope in Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday (April 22, 2025 morning.

“I attempt to not discuss my religion in public,” Mr. Albanese instructed reporters.

“At instances like this, I feel what individuals do is that they draw on who they’re and positively my Catholicism is simply part of me,” he added.

Mr. Albanese and Mr. Dutton, who leads the conservative Liberal Get together, will meet in Sydney in a while Tuesday (April 22, 2025) for the third televised leaders’ debate of the marketing campaign.

A fourth debate is deliberate Sunday (April 27, 2025).

Mr. Dutton, who was raised by a Catholic father and Protestant mom and attended an Anglican college, deliberate to go to a church service in Sydney.

“I don’t suppose it’s a day for overt politicking in any respect. I feel that the day is finest spent reflecting,” Mr. Dutton instructed Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“I don’t suppose there’s a spot for the physique blows of politics at present. I feel it’s a really completely different day from that,” Mr. Dutton added.

Mr. Albanese’s center-left Labor Get together is in search of a second three-year time period.

The federal government held a slender majority of 78 seats out of 151 within the Home of Representatives the place events kind administrations throughout its first time period.

The decrease chamber will shrink to 150 seats after the election as a consequence of redistributions.

The key events are each predicting a detailed election outcome.