Swedes went to the polls earlier today (Sunday) for an election quite unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the United Kingdom – the election of officials for their church.

Most Swedes are technically members of the Church of Sweden, in fact 5.6 million people (of a population of just over 9) were eligible to vote in today’s election, but few bothered to turn out to register their preferences. The election was also completely ignored by Mike Smithson on politicalbetting.com, unsurprisingly, and there is no live television coverage available to give the Swedes their “I was up for Bishop Portillo” moment.

“Participation has declined in recent elections and it is likely to continue to decline. There are no issues that generate interest,” Jan Strid a researcher at the SOM institute told the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper. In fact the only event of any interest was the criticism directed at Social Democrat party leader Mona Sahlin choosing to attend a party on Mallorca instead of campaigning in an election that she had previously equated to a general election in importance.

The election appoints representatives to parish assemblies (or parish councils), to association vestries in an association of parishes, to the Diocesan Council and to the national General Synod. Tonight, the careers of thousands hang in the balance. Who will remain standing tomorrow? You could cut the tension with a spoon.