Transport, elections and voting

Abstract

Recent scholarship has increasingly recognised that transport research often overlooks political dimensions, particularly the role of electoral politics. The relationship between transport and electoral politics is multifaceted. Voters influence transport indirectly through elected officials while direct democracy enables citizens to actively shape transport systems. Unlike most policy areas, transport policy also shapes electoral outcomes by affecting access to voting, suggesting potential feedback mechanisms. This paper presents a systematic literature review that explores the intersection of transport and electoral politics, guided by three questions: How does transport intersect with voting and elections? What recent themes emerge from the literature? What biases influence this research area? Analysing 163 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024, the study identifies four key types of transport and electoral politics research: (1) how transport systems enable or restrict voting; (2) how transport is included in election campaigns; (3) voting for transport; and, (4) how elections affect transport systems. The literature is primarily focused on cars and roads, developed countries, and local politics, with biases differing across the four key types of research. This review reveals significant gaps and underexplored areas, underscoring the need for more inclusive, diverse, and interdisciplinary research to better understand the complex, reciprocal relationship between transport and electoral politics.