There’s a widespread rumor going around Whidbey Island that many Democrats are writing in the name William “De” Dennis as a Democratic candidate for sheriff.

The problem is, De Dennis is a Republican candidate for Island County Sheriff.

Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair said she heard the rumor — though not attached with Dennis specifically — but she said it’s a strategy that won’t work, even if the gossip is true. If a voter checks him or herself as a Democrat, any votes that cross over to the other party will not be counted on the primary ballot.

“It would not be considered valid because he’s not a Democrat candidate,” she said.

The primary ballot system apparently has angered and confused a lot of voters, particularly the part in which they have to choose a party. Snohomish County sampled 250 ballots and found that 20 percent of voters did not select a party. Those votes in partisan races will not be counted.

Sinclair said her office also did a sample count of 400 ballots and found that 8.75 percent of the voters did not choose a party.

“We’re not as high, I’m happy to say,” she said, though it’s still a significant number of ballots.

Sinclair said Island County residents probably did a better job of voting than others in the state because they are simply more attentive and care about the election.

“Island County voters are always a little ahead of state average,” she said, “as far as voter turn-out goes.”

As far as the rumored write-in campaign, Dennis said it was news to him. Even if it was a strategy that would work — and the votes were valid — Dennis said he wouldn’t go along with it.

“I can’t see switching parties to win an election,” he said, adding that he’s been a life-long Republican.

Grethe Cammermeyer, chair of the Island County Democrats, said the party definitely hasn’t encouraged anyone to write in Dennis’ name.

In fact, she said the party didn’t endorse anyone for Island County Sheriff, not even Jay Wallace. The former Island County deputy fired by Sheriff Mike Hawley originally filed as a Republican, but switched to a Democrat when the Republicans rejected him at the convention.