Santa Barbara County election officials confirmed today that Rincon Point residents have voted to replace their septic tanks with sewage service, capping a divisive election and nearly a decade of pleas by surfers and environmentalists.

A formal tally of the ballots cast by 140 registered voters in the affected area showed 52 percent, or 73 residents, favored the project, while 48 percent, or 67 people, opposed it. A simple majority was needed for approval.

"We finally have some closure," said Billie Alvarez, the chief deputy registrar of voters whose staff unveiled and hand counted the ballots today.

Proponents hailed the outcome of the controversial election, which drew allegations of voter fraud and has divided the beach-side community overlooking one of the world's most picturesque surf spots.

"It's a tremendous relief," said Hillary Hauser, director of Heal the Ocean, one of the organizations convinced that Rincon septic tanks are contaminating the ocean.

Opponents plan to research their legal options. Some believe conversion to sewers will not clean up the fouled water at Rincon, making the years-long effort a waste of time and money.

As a result of the vote, the area now will be annexed into the Carpinteria Sanitary District, which will provide the sewage service.

Because residents will be assessed between $35,000 and $70,000 to hook up to the sewers, the issue needed voter approval under California's Proposition 218 tax initiative.

The conversion project also will involve homes on aging septic tanks in southern Santa Barbara County communities in or near Sandyland Cove, Sand Point Road and Padaro Lane.

Ventura County election officials were drawn into the affair after Heal the Ocean and others challenged 20 of the votes — each cast from addresses in Ventura County — shortly after an April 22 mail-in annexation election.

Proponents alleged several extra voters registered at homes along the Rincon solely to overturn the sewage conversion, pointing to one address on Puesta del Sol that had 14 people registered as voters in a short period of time last winter.

Only eight of the 20 challenged votes were found to be legitimate and included in today's tally, said Jim Becker, Ventura County's assistant clerk and recorder. The 12 votes left out likely would have tipped the scales in favor of opponents.

Ten of the ballots were disqualified for residency issues and two because the signatures did not match the signatures on record, said Becker, who relied on various tax and property records and Department of Motor Vehicles information during his investigation.

"This has been a highly controversial and unusual election," he said. "I can't say I have seen anything like it."

His findings were given to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office to review for possible criminal violations, Becker said.

"Our No. 1 concern is to ensure the integrity of the voting process," Becker said. "We want to be sure not to disenfranchise anybody's right to vote."

Hundreds of surfers first approached Heal the Ocean in 1998 to ask for help in getting rid of the septic systems at the Rincon, Hauser said.

Environmental health officials, state and federal regulators, and boards of supervisors in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties later supported the effort. Removing the septic tanks has been part of a state plan to improve beaches since 2000. State water officials this year awarded $2.1 million toward the project.

The Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission must still approve the annexation. The Carpinteria Sanitary District intends to sell bonds to pay for the project, officials said.