Australians start voting in general elections as pope’s death overshadows campaigning

MELBOURNE Australia AP Australians began voting Tuesday at general elections as the death of Pope Francis overshadowed campaigning Polling stations opened to voters who for a variety of reasons will be unable to vote on May Around half the votes are expected to be cast before the voting date Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton canceled campaign events planned for Tuesday out of respect for the late pontiff Flags were flown at half staff from executive buildings across the country where a census determined of the population were Catholics Albanese was raised as a Catholic but chose to be sworn in as prime minister when elected in by making a secular affirmation rather than by taking an oath on a Bible Albanese who has described himself as a flawed Catholic attended a Mass in honor of the pope in Melbourne s St Patrick s Cathedral on Tuesday morning I try not to talk about my faith in constituents Albanese reported At times like this I think what people do is they draw on who they are and certainly my Catholicism is just a part of me he added Albanese and Dutton who leads the conservative Liberal Party will meet in Sydney later Tuesday for the third televised leaders debate of the campaign A fourth debate is planned Sunday Dutton who was raised by a Catholic father and Protestant mother and attended an Anglican school attended a Mass on Tuesday afternoon at Sydney s St Mary s Cathedral I don t think it s a day for overt politicking at all I think that the day is best spent reflecting Dutton noted I don t think there s a place for the body blows of politics at present I think it s a very different day from that Dutton added Albanese s center-left Labor Party is seeking a second three-year term The ruling body held a narrow majority of seats out of in the House of Representatives where parties form administrations during their first term The lower chamber will shrink to seats after the electoral process due to redistributions The major parties are both predicting a close polling development Source