Early voting in Australia election begins, PM Albanese's party holds slender lead

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves the 19th EAST ASEAN Summit (EAS) at the National Convention Centre, in Vientiane, Laos, October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Early voting in the Australian election began on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor party holding a slim lead over the conservative opposition coalition.

A steady increase in early and postal voting means as many as half of eligible Australians will cast their ballots before the May 3 election date, according to data from the country's election commission.