Voters in Australia began casting their ballots in early voting for the general election, officially scheduled for May 3, amid a heated competition between the country's two main political parties.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that polling stations opened on Tuesday morning for voters who are unable to vote on the official election day. Nearly half of the votes are expected to be cast during the days leading up to the official date.As part of the election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton are scheduled to face off in a televised debate on Tuesday evening.The election campaigns have seen a noticeable escalation in recent weeks, with both Albanese and Dutton making multi-billion-dollar pledges in an effort to win voters over, offering sharply contrasting visions for the country's future.Analysts predict a tightly contested election, with high early voter turnout reflecting increased public interest in the political and economic conditions facing the nation.
