Not a single person showed up to vote in local elections at the tiny farming settlement of Pillsbury in the U.S. state of North Dakota. Not even those on the ballot.

Pillsbury Mayor Darrel Brudevold went uncontested for re-election. His wife Ruth and Dan Lindseth also kept their alderman seats unopposed.

Officials were expecting the usual fairly high turnout of half a dozen people – about quarter of the population in the area.

But it turned out that on June 10 everybody was too busy to make it to the polls, reports the Associated Press. That included the candidates themselves.

The remarkably low turnout may have something to do with the fact that Pillsbury lacks anywhere to hold a ballot. Normally residents have to drive to neighbouring Sibley to cast their votes –  a 12-mile trip.

Brudevold, who has been the town’s mayor for a dozen years, asked state election officials what to do next. Barnes County Auditor Ed McGough said those in office can keep their seats until the next election.

“I presume things will stay the same,” Brudevold said. “We're just a little village, and when you're elected to one of those jobs, well, once you get it, you got it.”