Turnout Steady For Casino Vote

New Bedford residents are steadily turning out to vote on a proposed $650 million resort casino for the city's waterfront.

Elections officials say turnout has been light to moderate Tuesday morning across the former whaling capital's polling places.

They expect some 30 percent of the city's nearly 54,000 registered voters will cast ballots in the special referendum.

Polls opened 7 a.m. and the city will be posting vote results on its website after polls close at 8 p.m.

Voter approval is critical for the plan to advance in the competition for the state's third and final resort casino license.

The proposal calls for a Foxwoods-managed resort on a former power plant site. If approved, it would compete against one in Brockton that's already met voter approval.