Fort Bend ISD bars contracted guards from polling sites after sign removals

Fort Bend ISD in Texas has barred contracted polling site security guards from election assignments after they improperly removed election signs and poll workers at James Bowie Middle School, the district said on October 27, KHOU reported. The district apologized and said it would reevaluate its relationship with the security company, which has not been named.

Key points#

The guards received corrective action and will not work security at district polling locations, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The district called the conduct overzealous and said it is still investigating, the Chronicle reported.
The district said it will reevaluate its relationship with the unnamed security company, KHOU reported.
Sites that double as polling places need their own written instructions before voting starts.

What the district and witnesses said#

Guards told poll workers and supporters to leave although they had not broken any rules, KPRC reported. Superintendent Marc Smith and Board President Kristin Tassin issued the apology to the candidates and poll workers affected, the station said.

One supporter of a Republican state representative said a guard told her to leave while she was more than 100 feet from the polling location, KPRC reported, and another outlet identified his party. The chair of the county Democratic Party said a poll worker who asked to keep signs was told they would be destroyed, the station reported.

The district did not say what led to the incident or when it happened, KHOU reported. The incident took place during early voting for the November 3 general election, African American News and Issues reported.

The rules around polling sites#

Texas law bars campaign activity within 100 feet of an outside voter entrance, and peaceful electioneering is generally allowed beyond that zone under each property's sign rules, the same outlet reported.

The district's published guidelines allow each candidate or political action committee two signs at a school polling site, within size and placement limits, according to that report.

The instructions the guards had been given were not part of the reports we read. Every guard company can check its own instructions for sites like this one.

What it means for your company#

Ask which sites are polling places. Schools, churches and community centers may host voting, and the usual site rules may not fit those days.
Write the rules down. Add a section to the post orders with the person in charge of the voting area and who to call.
Tell officers to escalate first. Removing property or asking someone to leave should wait for a supervisor and the client's contact, unless safety requires otherwise.
Brief before the shift. Short training on election days costs little next to losing a client's trust.
Ask an expert. Election rules vary by state, so confirm yours with an attorney or the county elections office.

Guardix lets managers assign post orders to chosen officers or everyone at a site and see who has acknowledged them.

Frequently asked questions#

Who were the guards at the Fort Bend ISD polling site?#

They were contracted security guards, and the district has not identified them or their company, KHOU reported.

What happens to the security company?#

The district said it will reevaluate its relationship with the company while it investigates, KPRC reported. The reports do not give a result yet.