Voters in Australia cast their ballots during a national election, with the U.S. presidency and living expenses among their key concerns

Australian voters hit the polls on Saturday,, with signs pointing towards a win for Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over conservative challenger Peter Dutton. Election anxiety, fueled by concerns over Donald Trump's chaotic foreign policies, may have dampened the appetite for change.

Voting booths in Australia, where voting is compulsory, opened at 8 a.m. local time. A record 8 million of the 18 million eligible voters had already cast their ballots before the big day, a testament to the convenience of early voting in democracies. Overseas voters were expected to cast their ballots at 83 designated booths set up across the globe.

Albanese asserted that his government had solidified strong foundations during their term and sought a second term to pursue key policies such as improving housing affordability and strengthening Medicare, Australia's universal healthcare system. He expressed optimism, saying, "We want to be able to continue to kick goals for Australia."

In Melbourne, Dutton urged voters to support the Liberal-National coalition "to get our country back on track." He cited the stark decline in living standards under Labor as a reason for change, but opinions polls showed that global uncertainty, driven by Trump's tumultuous trade policies, had become a top concern for voters during the campaign.

Despite the election not being a referendum on Trump, his volatile diplomacy had a ripple effect. Australia, a close U.S. security ally and usual trade deficit partner, was hit with a 10% tariff on its exports. The opposition has used this to portray Dutton as a Trump-like conservative, a strategy aimed at capitalizing on Australians' overwhelmingly negative sentiment towards the former U.S. president.

Dutton, a former police officer with a reputation for tough border control, had led in opinion polls as recently as February. However, after Trump imposed tariffs on Australia, Dutton's campaign faltered, and he struggled to distance himself from comparisons with Trump adviser Elon Musk's aggressive agenda-cutting approach.

Recent polls suggest that Labor may form a minority government. The preferences of supporters of the minor parties and independent candidates could be crucial under Australia's ranked-choice voting system. A third of voters are likely to favor independents and minor parties, according to pollster Roy Morgan, a significant increase compared to the 2007 election.

Prior to the national elections, concerns over Donald Trump's foreign policies added to the election anxiety among voters.
The Australian Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, emphasized their policies on improving housing affordability and strengthening Medicare.
In Melbourne, Peter Dutton, the conservative challenger, urged voters to support the Liberal-National coalition to improve the country's living standards.
The 10% tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on Australia's exports have been used by the opposition to portray Peter Dutton as a Trump-like conservative.
Overseas voters, representing almost half of the total electorate, were to cast their ballots at designated booths set up across the globe.
A record 8 million of the 18 million eligible voters had already cast their ballots before the election day, indicating the convenience of early voting in democracies.
Elon Musk's aggressive agenda-cutting approach has been a significant point of comparison for Peter Dutton, diluting his reputation as a tough border controller.
In a bid to capitalize on Australians' negative sentiment towards Donald Trump, the opposition has been leveraging his volatile diplomacy as a campaign strategy.
The qualities of diplomacy and trade policies have played integral roles in shaping Australians' election choices, given the uncertainties driven by Trump's presidency.
Recent polls suggest that the Labor Party, under Anthony Albanese, might form a minority government in the parliament, with the preferences of minor parties and independent candidates playing a decisive role.