Mass. voters head to polls to pick new U.S. senator

BOSTON — Massachusetts voters are heading to the polls to pick a new U.S. senator.

Democrat Edward Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez scrambled to energize supporters and mobilize get-out-the-vote efforts leading to Tuesday’s special election to succeed John Kerry, who resigned to become U.S. secretary of state.

Gomez cast his ballot Tuesday in Cohasset, where he lives. He says Markey hasn’t addressed the big issues, despite working in Washington for 37 years.

Markey voted in his hometown of Malden. He says he’s delivered his message on improved gun safety, a woman’s right to choose and job creation and feels good about Election Day.

Massachusetts state Secretary William Galvin says he expects turnout to be relatively light, with no more than 1.6 million of the state’s 4.3 million registered voters casting ballots.