Elton Mayor Kesia Lemoine was removed from office by a narrow margin Saturday in a special recall election in Jeff Davis Parish.

The complete but unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office show 205, or 51 percent, voting to remove Lemoine from office while 197 voted against the recall.

Voter turnout was 55 percent.

Lemoine will be automatically removed from office after the nine-day period for filing an election contest is over, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. An interim will be appointed to replace the mayor until a special election can be held to fill the vacancy.

The recall election was called in January amid allegations of irregularities with the 2022 mayoral election, according to recall petition organizers. Organizers contend there were enough fraudulent votes to change the outcome of the election and that the people of Elton’s voices were not heard.

A recall attempt in May 2023 failed after organizers missed the mark on receiving enough signatures to place a recall election on the ballot. Forty percent of registered voters within the district were needed to force a recall election.

Parishwide voters renewed a 2.61-mill property tax tax for maintenance and upkeep of the parish courthouse and jail by a vote of 1,094-557 or 66 percent in favor.

It is expected to generate $748,500 annually for the upkeep of the facilities which includes the Clerk of Court, district attorney and judge’s offices, as well as the district court and some offices of the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Voters in Sub Road District 1 of Road District 11 approved the continuation of a 10.45-mill property tax for the improvement and maintenance of roads and bridges in the Fenton area by a vote of 52-21, or 71 in favor.

The millage, which represents a .14-mill increase, is expected to generate $339,000 annually for the district.

Voters in School District No. 1, which includes the two Lake Arthur campuses approved a 20-year, $3 million bond issue for construction and improvement of school facilities, including security upgrades. It will result in a 2-mill increase in the first year.

The measure passed 104-87, or 54 percent in favor.

Voters in the Welsh-Roanoke Consolidated School District 1 also passed a separate 20-year, $8.5 million bond issue for construction and improvements at Welsh High School, Welsh Elementary and Welsh-Roanoke Junior High.

It passed 267-85, or 76 percent in favor. It will be supported by a 12-mill tax in the first year.

Voters in Welsh renewed a 15-year, one-cent sales tax dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of streets, sidewalks and drainage.

The measure passed 189-26, or 88 percent in favor.

It is expected to generate $580,000 annually.

Voters in Fire Protection District 6 said yes to the continuation of a 10-year, 5.59 -mill property tax by a vote of 294-124, or 70 percent in favor.

The millage, which represents a .06-mill increase based on reappraisal, will be used for fire protection including construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of fire protection facilities in the Elton area. It is expected to generate $77,800 annually.