A device, system, and method determines occupancy for automated lighting operations. The system includes an occupancy sensor generating a first measurement of an occupancy within a location that illuminated by lights in a lighting system. The system includes a photosensor generating a second measurement of an illumination level within the location, the illumination level indicative of the occupancy within the location. The system includes a control device determining an occupancy state in the location based on the first measurement and determining a result of validating the determined occupancy state based on the second measurement. An agreement between the first and second measurements validating the determined occupancy state while a discrepancy invalidating the determined occupancy state. The control device generates a signal based on the result which is received by a manual on-auto off device to perform a corresponding operation on the lighting system.