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." The video shows: Sydney, Australia - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Sign reading voting center, voters walking in 2. Various of voters waiting in line, voters presenting identification 3. Various of voters filling out forms, casting votes [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]