It depends on the needs and desires of the generation (Heemek Devar Devarim 17:14). Thus Rav Kuk and Rav Uziel, who lived during a time when views on this were changing, disagreed as to whether women should have the right to vote and hold office. Rav Kuk felt that it was immodest and would harm shelom bayit. On the other hand, Rav Uziel did not see any immodesty in putting a ballot in a ballot box or discussng public business. He also pointed out that the same shelom bayit argument could be used to deny the vote to sons who are supported by their fathers. Denying women the right to vote could also lead to resentment (see Haggiga 16b that women were allowed to do semicha on korbanot to please them and Rosh HaShana 33a Tosofot d”h ha Rabbi Yehuda ha Rabbi Yossi that according to Rabbenu Tam women were also allowed to make berachot on mitzvot asseh shehazeman grama for this reason).
See also Gittin 88b Tosofot d”h velo lifnei hediotot and Baba Kama 15a Tosofot d”h asher tasim regarding Devora. See also Rav Shaul Yisraeli Amud HaYemini 12:5 that an official position in a democracy is not called a sarrara as the incumbent does not hold the job for life and does not pass it on to his son.