Final answer:
The likely reason the Census Bureau kept the UNIVAC at its original location was to avoid potential issues with shipping and to ensure its safety. Time constraints before the 1952 election might have also been a factor in the decision-making process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The likely reason the Census Bureau opted to keep the UNIVAC at its original location rather than ship it to one of the Census Bureau's official sites was that the Census Bureau probably sought to avoid issues that had plagued the BINAC's shipment to Northrop. Shipping such a valuable and delicate computer like the UNIVAC could result in potential damages, delays, or mishandling. By keeping it at its original location, the Census Bureau could ensure its safety and avoid the risks associated with shipping.
Furthermore, there might not have been enough time to get the computer to its preferred destination before the 1952 election. The UNIVAC was a complex machine, and moving it would require careful planning and implementation, which could have taken longer than the available timeframe. Therefore, it was more practical to keep the UNIVAC where it was.
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