ATLANTA — Georgia's secretary of state has responded to a letter by U.S. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer expressing concern about the enactment in recent years of state voter identification laws by saying tough rules are needed to prevent fraud at the polls.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp released his response on Thursday to the letter from Hoyer, saying stricter identification requirements enacted by Georgia and other states are needed to deal with attempts to commit voter fraud.

Kemp says he believes that enacting laws to protect the integrity of elections while ensuring the constitutional right to vote is a nonpartisan responsibility.

Hoyer's letter, signed by nearly 200 members of Congress, says recent restrictions are largely partisan in nature. It urges election officials to put partisan considerations aside.