Polls open in Australia as conservatives seek 4th term

Polling stations opened across eastern Australia on Saturday as voters decide whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative government will defy odds and rule for a fourth three-year term.  Opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party is a favorite to win its first election since 2007.

Both leaders woke on Saturday in Melbourne where they will continue campaigning before voting in their hometown of Sydney. The first polling stations opened on the east coast at 8 a.m. local time. The west coast is two hours behind. The stations close 10 hours later.