Pastor Doug Wilson has made a number of public statements about women and voting. On the surface, they may appear consistent, but when placed side by side they reveal a tension in his reasoning.

At times, Wilson frames the issue as one of female competency. He has described the 19th Amendment, which gave women the vote, as “a bad idea” — implying that women tend to make poorer civic decisions than men.

At other times, he frames the issue as a rejection of individualism. For example, in one of his blog posts, he wrote:

“So it is not that we don’t want women voting. It is that we don’t want individuals voting as autonomous units. When solitary individuals vote in our church elections, they are doing so as a smaller household. Ordinarily this is the husband and father. But when a woman is the head of the home (e.g. a widow), she is the one who casts the vote.”

In another video, he said:

“When women were granted the right to vote, the nation had already accepted the lie that a nation is nothing more than a collection of individuals… We thought we were giving the franchise to women when we were in fact taking it away from families.”

So which is it? Is the problem that women are bad decision-makers, or that individualism eroded family representation?

The True Biblical Patriarchist Position

From a true Biblical Patriarchist perspective, the answer is both — but Wilson’s proposed solution (household voting that sometimes includes widows or single women) is not consistent.

1. Women are More Prone to Deception

The Apostle Paul writes:

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
(1 Timothy 2:12–14, KJV)

The Scriptures plainly state that women are more susceptible to deception. This is not an insult, but a recognition of God’s design. Women are more inclined to make decisions based on emotion, while men are called to lead with rational judgment and firmness.

2. When Women Rule, the People Err

God warns through the prophet Isaiah:

> “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”
(Isaiah 3:12, KJV)

Allowing women to exercise ruling authority — whether in politics, church decisions, or society at large — leads to error and destruction.

3. Headship Belongs to Men Alone

For a fuller defense of this position, see my article: Deborah Did Not Lead Israel.

God’s order is clear:

> “The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
(1 Corinthians 11:3, KJV)

Men are called to represent their households in the covenant community and in society. Allowing widows or single women to cast household votes, as Wilson suggests, still violates this principle — because it allows women to exercise authority over men through the power of the vote.

What About Deborah?

A frequent objection to Biblical Patriarchy is the example of Deborah in the book of Judges. Many argue that because Deborah was both a prophetess and a judge, this legitimizes female political leadership. But this interpretation ignores the biblical distinctions between prophecy and rule.

First, we must recognize that in Scripture, not every prophet was also a civil ruler. Moses, for example, was both prophet and ruler over Israel (Deut 34:10; Exod 18:13–16). Others, like Nathan or Huldah, were prophets who delivered God’s word but never governed. The prophetic office does not automatically equate to ruling authority.

Deborah falls into this second category. Judges 4:4–5 describes her as a prophetess who “judged” Israel, meaning people came to her for counsel because she spoke God’s words. But she never exercised civil rule. When God called Barak to lead the army, Deborah merely relayed the message. And when Barak hesitated, the prophecy was that the honor would go to a woman — Jael — not that Deborah would assume leadership (Judges 4:9).

Deborah herself underscores that it was Barak who led Israel to victory: “Awake, awake, Deborah… arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive” (Judges 5:12). The song of Deborah gives glory to God and highlights Barak’s leadership, not Deborah’s rule.

Thus, Deborah was a prophetess and counselor, not a female ruler overturning God’s order. As Isaiah 3:12 makes clear, when women rule over men it is a sign of judgment, not blessing.

Conclusion

Doug Wilson is right to oppose individualism and to emphasize the importance of the household. But his allowance for female voting in cases of widowhood or female headship undermines the very patriarchal order Scripture commands.

From a Biblical Patriarchist perspective:

Women should not vote in civil or church elections.

Only men, as the ordained heads of households, should represent their families.

This is not merely a pragmatic observation about women making “bad decisions,” but a divine order established in creation.

Until we return to God’s design for male headship and authority, both the church and the nation will continue to err.