Australia's Albanese takes slim lead as early voting starts

SYDNEY — Early voting in the Australian election began on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-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 electoral commission.

The beginning of voting coincides with a slump in popularity of the opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton, who has struggled to shake off perceived ideological closeness to United States President Donald Trump.