Studies of how elected representatives connect with their communities focus heavily on the styles of representation or the tools they use for constituent communication and engagement. This paper looks beyond the 'styles' and 'tools' of representatives to investigate what doing representation looks like in an MP's electorate. Grounded empirical findings from observational research of six diverse federal MPs in their electorates shed light on how the connective work of MPs is shaped by four features of their workplace: pace, staff, systems, and space. The empirical analysis renders visible key temporal, relational, administrative, and spatial features that shape the practice of contemporary electoral representation. Overall, this research advances knowledge on the demands and work of being a contemporary elected representative, and identifies opportunities for improved support and capacity building.
