This paper reviews and conducts a meta-analysis of the empirical literature on the electoral effects of public goods and services around the world. While many studies demonstrate that investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare yield positive electoral returns for incumbents, others find zero or even negative effects. We identify four key mechanisms that help explain when and why public goods investments may fail to translate into electoral gains: (1) interest group opposition, where reforms alienate influential stakeholders; (2) unmet expectations, where public goods fall short of voter expectations; (3) reduced clientelism, where services diminish reliance on patronage networks; and (4) mismatched priorities, where investments do not align with voter preferences. Our findings contribute to theories of electoral accountability, highlighting both the potential and the limits of public service provision as a strategy for securing voter support. We discuss implications for understanding voter behavior, public goods provision, and the design of effective governance strategies in democracies.