M MELBOURNE, Australia, April 22, (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 3. Around half the votes are expected to be cast before the election 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 government buildings across the country, where a 2021 census found 20% of the population were Catholics

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. 

Albanese’s center-left Labor Party is seeking a second three-year term. The government held a narrow majority of 78 seats out of 151 in the House of Representatives, where parties form administrations during their first term. The lower chamber will shrink to 150 seats after the election due to redistributions. The major parties are both predicting a close election result.