On Wednesday May 16, legislators return to Raleigh to convene the traditional 2012 Short Session of the General Assembly, just one week after North Carolinians will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the May 8 Primary Election. In many ways, the events of May 8 will serve to set the stage and the mood of the 2012 short session. Decisions made by voters in the primary will decide which candidates will make it to the General Election ballot on November 6, as well as whether the State Constitution will be amended to protect the institution of marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The latter would make North Carolina the 31st state to protect marriage through the State Constitution.