Mass voters overwhelmingly answered “yes” to Question 1.

Policy

State Auditor Diane DiZoglio now has the power to audit the state legislature after a vote.

Massachusetts voters officially voted “yes” on Question 1, allowing the state auditor to audit the state Legislature.

The measure passed with 71.4 percent of the vote, with 63.43 percent of precincts reporting as of 11:54 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said she believes the government can do “amazing things” after the AP confirmed results.

“Today’s victory is an opportunity for all of us to look forward and work to improve our Legislature,” DiZoglio said in a statement. “The people of Massachusetts want the fairness, transparency and accountability that legislative audit will bring, not because of divisions or party lines, but because of our great potential to advance progress together.”

Previously, the State Legislature was the only state body that was not audited. DiZoglio pressed for this power since last year, despite opposition from legislators.

What does question 1 do?

The question proposed adding language to the Massachusetts General Laws that expressly gives the auditor the power to audit the Legislature. The previous language stated that the auditor could examine “all departments, offices, commissions, agencies and activities of the Commonwealth.”

Supporters of the measure believe a “yes” answer to Question 1 could bring some order to a Legislature plagued by criticism of its effectiveness.

“Legislative leaders say the Legislature only needs to conduct the audit through a private vendor,” supporters of the bill said in a statement submitted to voters. “However, the Massachusetts Legislature is consistently ranked as one of the least effective and least transparent legislatures in America and is one of only four legislatures that are exempt from public records laws.”

Boston Globeeditorial board approved voting “yes” on the first question, criticizing the efficiency of the state Legislature and saying the auditor would help “shine some light” on the state body’s operations.

Opponents said giving those powers to the auditor would violate the separation of powers detailed in the Massachusetts constitution. Jerold Duquette, co-founder and senior writer for MassPoliticsProfs, led the opposition. He said Tuesday evening that the results were “as expected.”

“The Legislature will repeal this,” he said. “The Legislature will resist, and if the auditor tries to get a court order, she will have to sue them.”

Duquette said he believes the Legislature will allow the issue to go to trial. He also said the measure was “unconstitutional” and said DiZolio knew that.

“But she won’t say that on the ballot,” he said of DiZoglio.

Now that the measure has passed, state lawmakers have four options if they are forced to conduct an audit. They can grant new authority to DiZolio and allow her to audit them, reject the measure but still comply with the audit, reject the measure and not comply with it, or ignore any potential audit request entirely.