MOULTRIE, Ga. — None of the seven candidates on Tuesday’s ballot for an unexpired Colquitt County Commission seat gained a clear victory, setting up a runoff next month.

In an election in which less than 9 percent of registered voters cast ballots, Barbara Jelks came out on top with 90 votes, followed by Darius Dawson’s 57, according to vote totals provided by the Colquitt County Probate Court office.

Their names will be on the April 17 runoff ballot for the District 1 position that has been vacant since September when long-time Commissioner Luke Strong Jr. died. Former Moultrie City Council member Susie Magwood-Thomas finished third with 53 votes.

A candidate is required to win a majority of votes cast in order to avoid a runoff election.

In Tuesday’s race, 278 voters cast ballots, which represents 8.9 percent of the 3,158 registered in the district.

The winner in the runoff election between Jelks and Dawson will serve out the remainder of Strong’s term, which ends on Dec. 31.

Six of the seven candidates in Tuesday’s race will be on the ballot when voters go to the polls on May 22 for party primary races.

Five of those — Jeron Bridges, Dawson, Jelks, Magwood-Thomas and James Weeks — are running on the Democratic ticket. Stacey Williams qualified as the lone Republican.

That sets up the winner of the Democratic primary to face Williams in the fall general election.

Results from Tuesday’s voting were:

• Barbara Jelks, 90 votes, 32.37 percent.

• Darius Dawson, 57 votes 20.50 percent.

• Susie Magwood-Thomas, 53 votes, 19.06 percent.

• James Weeks, 42 votes, 15.11 percent.

• Jeron Bridges, 16 votes, 5.76 percent.

• Stacey Williams, 16 votes, 5.76 percent.

• William Pittman Jr., 4 votes, 1.44 percent.