Fort Bend ISD is apologizing after security guards at a polling location inside James Bowie Middle School removed election signs and told poll workers and supporters to leave, even though they were not violating any rules.
The district says the guards went too far and will no longer be permitted to work security at school facilities used as polling locations. The security guards involved are also receiving corrective action.
Linda Morgan says she was outside the polling location greeting voters and holding a sign supporting her son, State Representative Matt Morgan, when a security guard approached her and demanded she leave.
“We were trying to get an explanation of why and he said, ‘Well, your sign.’ I said I was holding a sign, which I had done all the previous days before. I said, ‘If I put my sign in my car, will I be allowed to stay?’ He said, ‘No, you’re on school property. You need to leave immediately,” Morgan recalled.
Morgan says the guard was not aggressive but was firm, and she complied, even though she was more than 100 feet from the polling location, well beyond the legally required buffer.
“They were not aggressive, but they were demanding,” she said.
Members of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party experienced a similar confrontation, according to Chairwoman, Jennifer Cantu.
“They stated that their security guard had mentioned they were going to start removing the signs,” said Cantu.
Cantu says poll workers are permitted two signs per polling location.
“Our poll worker went up to the security guard and asked, ‘Is it possible for us to hold on to them? We’ll get the nominees to come and pick them up.’ And he was like, ‘No, we’re going to destroy them,’” Cantu said.
In a formal statement, Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Dr. Marc Smith and Board President Kristin Tassin issued an apology, saying:
“The contracted security guards’ actions and overzealous behavior do not reflect the district’s stance or how we oversee the election process at polling locations in partnership with the Fort Bend County Elections Office. Our sincerest apologies go out to the candidates and the poll workers who were directly impacted by the improper actions of the security guards at James Bowie Middle School.”
The district says it is continuing to investigate the full scope of the incident and will reevaluate its relationship with the security company.
Both Morgan and Cantu say the incident is a reminder to speak up and know your rights.
“I hope it’s a lesson to all for people to stand up for their First Amendment rights because it’s important in America,” Morgan said.
“I do hope it shows the message that you need to speak up. You can’t stay quiet,” Cantu added.
Fort Bend ISD released the following statement:
FORT BEND ISD (October 27, 2026) - Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) regrets the incident at James Bowie Middle School, a district-designated polling location, where election signs and poll workers were improperly removed.
The District believes in the election process and supports candidates in their right to garner support for their campaigns, within the confines of the law.
The contracted security guards’ actions and overzealous behavior do not reflect the district’s stance or how we oversee the election process at polling locations in partnership with the Fort Bend County Elections Office.
The security guards in question received corrective action and will no longer be permitted to perform security details at facilities designated as polling locations in Fort Bend ISD.
The district continues to investigate the incident to fully understand the events that occurred, in order to make matters right with the affected parties. We will also reevaluate our relationship with the security company to ensure that they properly represent the district when serving as representatives of Fort Bend ISD.
We are fully committed to working alongside the county to be a polling site host that upholds the election process, as well as support both candidates and constituents in their right to engage in peaceful voting activities.
Our sincerest apologies go out to the candidates and the poll workers who were directly impacted by the improper actions of the security guards at James Bowie Middle School.
Dr. Marc Smith
FBISD Superintendent of Schools
