Early voting for Australia's general election has begun, with about half of the country's 18 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots before election day on May 3.
The early voting kicked off on Tuesday, with more than 500 early voting centers and over 7,000 polling stations set up across the country.
The proportion of Australians choosing to vote early, either in person or by post, has steadily increased at recent federal elections from under 20 percent in 2004 to almost 50 percent in 2022.
Voting in elections is mandatory for over 18 million citizens aged 18 and over those who are enrolled to do so with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). According to the AEC, eligible voter enrollment for the May 3 election is a record-high 98.2 percent.
Key issues, including domestic politics, public welfare, and international relations, have been major concerns for many voters.
Although millions of votes will be cast early, AEC staff cannot start counting any ballots until polls close at 18:00 local time on May 3.
The election will see all 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 out of 76 seats in the Senate up for grabs. The ruling Labor Party and the Coalition are competing for these critical positions. To form a government, a party must secure at least 76 seats in the House. If no party achieves a majority, they will need to form a coalition with another party or parties, or with independent candidate, resulting in a "hung parliament."
Early voting begins in Australia's general election
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
